Prof. Dr. Mark Wenig - Curriculum Vitae

Working Experience

Professor (W2) at the Meteorological Institute Munich, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München (since September 2012):

  • Air pollution measurements using satellite and ground based remote sensing techniques
  • Measurement of three-dimensional distributions of NO2 using differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS)
  • Developing of new inversion techniques for MAX-DOAS (Multi-Axis DOAS) measurements for the retrieval of aerosol and NO2 profiles
  • Combined measurements of trace gases, clouds and aerosols using DOAS, Radar and Lidar instruments
Assistant Professor (2009-2011) and Associate Professor (2011-2012) at the School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong:

  • Engineering and continuous operation of a long-path NO2 DOAS spectrometer
  • Measurements of street-level NO2 concentrations using a Cavity-Enhanced DOAS instrument
  • NO2 profile measurements using a Multi-Axes DOAS instrument
  • Analysis of NO2 patterns and weekly cycles using satellite data
  • Applying image processing techniques to determine sources of aerosols, NO2 and SO2 and transport of emission plumes
  • Analysis of the influence of desert dust on the air quality in Hong Kong
  • Studied tessellation schemes in combination with deconvolution methods
  • Chairman of the School of Graduate Studies Committee
  • Member of the Staffing Committee
  • Member of the Quality Assurance Committee
  • Member of the Graduate Studies Committee
Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics and Material Sciences, City University of Hong Kong (2007-2009):

  • Development of algorithms for DOAS measurements
  • Simulation of the transport of emission plumes using the Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GOCART) Model
  • Analysis of the influence of desert dust on the air quality in Hong Kong
  • Sky radiometer measurements to determine aerosol optical properties and for satellite validation
  • Radiative transfer calculations and inversion techniques for aerosol measurements
  • Member of the Curriculum Committee
  • Member of the Lab Committee
  • Exchange program coordinator
  • Department’s coordinator for scholarships and prizes
  • Associate Investigator at the Guy Carpenter Asia-Pacific Climate Impact Centre
Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (2002-2007):

  • Worked on OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument an board the Aura satellite) NO2 retrieval algorithm and ground validation campaigns
  • Developed inversion method to classify and analyze different type of NOX sources
  • Applied parameter estimation techniques on simulated transport of dust plumes
  • Developed new data assimilation techniques to analyze, interpolate, and visualize atmospheric data sets
  • Analyzed case studies of intercontinental transport of tropospheric trace gases measured from space
  • Studied influence of lightning on production of nitrogen oxides
  • Worked on global aerosol transport simulations
  • Programmed C++ library for optimization techniques and image processing
  • Investigated the use of genetic algorithms for atmospheric science
  • Developed a mathematical operator formalism for the Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) technique to describe dependencies of uncertainties on instrument characteristics
  • Optimization of cellular automata using a Genetic Algorithm
  • Led the seminar “Algorithms for the New Chemistry Missions” (2004-2007)
Research Scientist (Post-Doc) at Heidelberg University (2001-2002):

  • Analyzed spectroscopic measurements from space to derive trace gas concentrations in the atmosphere
  • Applied digital image processing techniques to sequences of NO2 concentration maps in order to separate the stratospheric and tropospheric fraction of the total column and to estimate nitrogen oxides source strengths
  • Used Monte Carlo simulations for radiative transfer modeling
  • Studied influence of clouds on spectroscopic measurements of the atmosphere
  • Investigated remote sensing techniques for deriving cloud parameters using spectroscopic measurements
  • Worked on EU project GOA (Assimilation of GOME trace gas column densities into chemical transport models), 2001-2002
  • Worked on project NOXTRAM, Determination of the Source Strengths of NOX using GOME Image Sequences and Atmospheric Transport Models, 2001-2002
  • Visiting scientist at the Royal Dutch Meteorology Institute (KNMI) in De Bilt, The Netherlands, May-June 1999

Education

  • Dr. Rer. Nat. (Doctor of natural sciences, equivalent to PhD), Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing and Institute for Environmental Physics, Heidelberg University, Germany, 2001
  • Ph.D. Thesis: Satellite Measurement of Long-Term Global Tropospheric Trace Gas Distributions and Source Strengths - Algorithm Development and Data Analysis, 2001, part of the German Research Foundation (DFG) research unit "Image Sequence Analysis to Investigate Dynamic Processes"
  • Diplom-Physiker (equivalent to MSc), Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany, 1998
  • Diploma (MSc) Thesis: Cloud Classification Using Image Sequence Analysis of GOME Satellite Data, 1998, Advisors: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Platt and Prof. Dr. Bernd Jähne
  • Diplom-Vorprüfung in Physik (Intermediate diploma in physics, comparable to BSc), Münster University, Germany, 1995

Extracurricular

  • Scientific Advisor for the Hong Kong Observatory
  • Inventor of the Logarithmic Dice (German utility patent No. 20 2006 012 226.5)
  • Volunteered at the 2006 FIRST Robotics Competition (Chesapeake Regional), Annapolis, MD
  • Team member of the Agilo RoboCuppers of the Image Understanding Group (Robot Vision and Game Theory), Technical University Munich, Germany, 1999-2001
  • Programmer at MVV Energy Consulting (Advanced Local Energy Planning, optimization of a power grid), Mannheim, Germany, 1997
  • Graduate assistant at the Interdisciplinary Institute for Environmental Economy (network administration, TeX support, web design), 1997-1998
  • Alternative national service with the German Red Cross (on-duty medical unit, transportation services for the Disabled), 1992-1993

Projects

  • EU project GOA "Assimilation of GOME trace gas column densities into chemical transport models", Co-I with PI Prof. Dr. Hennie Kelder, Royal Dutch Meteorology Institute (KNMI), 120k€ for Heidelberg subproject, 2001-2003
  • AFO 2000 project NOXTRAM "Determination of the Source Strengths of NOX using GOME Image Sequences and Atmospheric Transport Models", Co-I with PIs Prof. Dr. U. Platt, University Heidelberg, and Dr. A. Stohl, Technical University Munich, 150k€ for Heidelberg subproject, 2001-2006.
  • NASA NRA NNH04ZYS004N "An Integrated Approach of Enhancing the Quality of Aura Aerosol Retrieval, Supporting Aura Validation, and Analyzing Aura data", Co-I with PI Dr. M. Chin, NASA GSFC $900k, 2005-2008.
  • NASA NRA NNH07ZDA001N-AST "OMI Nitrogen Dioxide: The Next Generation Algorithm for Total Column and Tropospheric Column Data Products", Co-I with PI Dr. James Gleason, $1,373,018, 2008-2010
  • Hong Kong Strategic Research Grant "Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy Measurements of Nitrogen Dioxide in Hong Kong", HK$162k, 2008-2009
  • Hong Kong Start-up Grant "Measurement of Aerosol Composition in Hong Kong Using Inversion Techniques based on Sky Radiometer Measurements and Radiative Transfer Modeling", HK$100k, 2007-08
  • Hong Kong Strategic Research Grant "Development of a new Technique to Derive Emission Inventories From Satellite Data", HK$180k, 2009-2011
  • Hong Kong Strategic Research Grant "Aerosol Profile Measurements in Hong Kong Using a Lidar System", HK$180k, 2009-2011
  • CityU Teaching Development Grant "Digital Image Processing on Mobile Robots", PI, HK$ 400 000, 2009
  • CityU Quality Campus Life Fund "Student Study Tour to the Robot World Cup Soccer Games and Conferences in Graz, Austria, 2009", PI, HK$ 85 000, 2009
  • Germany/HK Joint Research Scheme "Implementation of a Novel Fiber Optics Based DOAS System and Continuous NO2 Measurements in Heidelberg and Hong Kong", PI, HK$ 60 000, 2009-2010
  • CityU Quality Campus Life Fund "Student Study Tour to the Robot World Cup Soccer Games and Conferences in Singapore, 2010", PI, HK$ 75 000, 2010
  • Hong Kong General Research Fund "Development of a New Technique to Derive SO2 Emission Inventories From Satellite Data", PI, HK$ 590 000, 2010-2012
  • Quality Campus Life Fund "Robot Soccer Study Tour to RoboCup 2010 in Singapore", PI, HK$ 75 000, 2010
  • Strategic Research Grant "NO2 Measurements in Hong Kong Using a Long-path DOAS Instrument with Multiple Paths" PI, HK $138 298, 2011-2012
  • Hong Kong Strategic Research Grant "Multiple-Axis DOAS Measurements in Hong Kong", PI, HK$ 180 000, funded but rejected
  • Hong Kong General Research Fund "NO2 Measurements in Hong Kong Using a Scanning Long-Path DOAS Instrument", PI, , HK$ 500 000, 2012-2015
  • DFG Major Research Instrumentation Programme Grant "Measurement System for the three-dimensional monitoring of NO2 distributions using differential optical absorption spectroscopy ", 200.000€


















last updated 12.03.2014