Kelvin Bates
Assistant Professor • Air Quality
kelvin.bates@colorado.edu
Office Location:ÌýECOT 233 (Main campus)
Lab Location:ÌýSEEL 250A (East campus)

Research Interests

Field observations of organic gases, mass spectrometry, environmental chamber experiments, atmospheric chemistry modeling, trace gas oxidation mechanism development

Our research combines experimental and modeling tools to identify the ways in which volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere react to produce harmful air pollutants like ozone and particles, and to quantify the impacts of these pollutants on human health and global climate. We develop instruments like mass spectrometers to detect a wide range of VOCs with high sensitivity, and use these instruments in targeted environmental chamber experiments to diagnose the reaction rates and products of VOCs in the atmosphere. We also partner with NOAA, NASA, and others to bring our instruments into the field and make ambient observations from aircraft, stationary sites, and vehicles. We then use atmospheric models likeÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýÌýto understand the importance of the chemicals and reactions we observe in chamber studies and the ambient atmosphere on regional to global scales, and to quantify their impacts on air pollution, human health, and the global climate.

Societal Impact

By better understanding the chemical processes that control ozone and particle formation in the atmosphere, we help determine the steps that individuals and institutions can take to mitigate air pollution.

Teaching

MCEN 1024 - Chemistry for Energy & Material Science - Fall 2024Ìý

Background

Dr. Bates received his PhD in chemistry at Caltech and his BS in chemistry and economics from Davidson College. Prior to his appointment at CU, he was a postdoctoral fellow in theÌýÌýat Harvard University, a project scientist at the University of California Davis inÌý, and a research scientist at theÌýÌýin Â鶹ӰԺ, during which he deployed mass spectrometers aboard aircraft and other mobile platforms on theÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýÌýfield campaigns.

Select Publications

  • Bates, K. H., Evans, M. J., Henderson, B. H., and Jacob, D. J. "." Geosci. Model Dev., 17 (4), 1511-1524, 2024.Ìý
  • Bates, K. H., Jacob, D. J., Cope, J. D., Chen, X., Millet, D. B., and Nguyen, T. B. "." Environ. Sci.: Atmos., 3, 1651-1664, 2023.Ìý
  • Cope, J. D.,ÌýBates, K. H., Tran, L. N., Abellar, K. A., and Nguyen, T. B. "." Proc. Nat’l. Acad. Sci., 119 (36) e2202857119, 2022.
  • Bates, K. H., Burke, G. J. P., Cope, J. D., and Nguyen, T. B. "." Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 1467-1482, 2022.
  • Dovrou, E.,ÌýBates, K. H., Moch, J. M., Mickley, L. J., Jacob, D. J., and Keutsch, F. N. "." Proc. Nat’l. Acad. Sci., 119 (6), e2113265119; 2022.

Select Awards

  • 2021 - UBC Early Career Invited Lecture Award - University of British Columbia
  • 2017 - Climate & Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship - NOAA
  • 2017 - Center for the Environment Postdoctoral Fellowship - Harvard University
  • 2014 - NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Select Professional Activities

  • 2024 - present: Editor,Ìý
  • 2024 - present: Co-chair, Chemistry Working Group,Ìý
  • 2024 - present: University coordinating partner,Ìý

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