Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research 

Aldo Shemesh, Head

This Department, established in 1990, is dedicated to understanding the complex inter-relationships among the major earth systems and between the human need for energy and the consequent impact on the earth's environment. This requires knowledge of all the interdependent ecosystems that together constitute the "environment", as well as a commitment to improving the manner in which energy is utilized by humans.

The Department's research activities have several areas of focus. One is in the field of physical oceanography and hydrology. A second is in the use of stable isotopes for paleoclimatic reconstructions and biosphere-atmosphere interactions, and a third is in the field of atmospheric chemistry. Research in solar energy is conducted in a dedicated facility, the Solar Tower, on campus. The Department is distinguished by the fact that many collaborations exist among faculty members from quite different backgrounds. Such collaborations are viewed as essential in the fields of environmental and energy sciences. The interdisciplinary nature of the Department is well reflected in the academic training of the research students. Their backgrounds vary enormously from physics to biology and geology. We encourage the participation of students who are interested in not only investigating in depth a specific subject, but who are also interested in a broader, more integrative approach to science.

E. Aharonov 
 

Granular media, applications to landslides and Earthquakes.

1.  Granular dynamic simualtions (with Dr. Dave Sparks)

2.  Liquifaction experiments (with Dr Amotz Agnon, Sofia Schnitke)

Fluid flow in deformable and reactive porous media.

Modeling of rock failure
E. Aharonov, Dr Regina Katsman, Dr. Harvey Scher

Experimental Pressure Solution
E. Aharonov, Dr Chris Scholz, Zvi Karz

B. Berkowitz 
brian.berkowitz@weizmann.ac.il

Fluid flow and chemical transport in groundwater systems.

Percolation, scaling and statistical physics models of structural and dynamic processes in geological formations.

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of fluid flow and dissolution patterns in rock fractures.

J. Karni 
jacob.karni@weizmann.ac.il

Energy transport in particles seeded flows at high temperature.

Development of directly irradiated solar receivers.

Spectral, angular and temperature dependence of radiation properties of high temperature materials.

Y. Rudich 
yinon.rudich@weizmann.ac.il

Chemical identification of organic compounds in atmospheric aerosols.

1.  Absorption of organic compounds to mineral dust particles

2.  Identification of water-soluble material in biomass burning aerosols from Brazil

3.  Use of analytical techniques such as GCMS and ion chromatography

Aerosol-Cloud interactions
Y. Rudich, Prof. Rosenfeld - Hebrew University, Prof. Levin - Tel Aviv University

1.  Desert dust and its effects of precipitation

2.  The effect of salt-dust on precipitating clouds

3.  Effect of the Kuwait oil fires (1991) on clouds

The chemistry of organic aerosols: reactivity with atmospheric radicals and oxidants.

1.  Flowtube experiments

2.  Aerosol flow experiments

3.  Reactions of ozone and OH with particles, identification of surface and bulk products

Nano-sized particles and their environmental effects

1.  Engeeniring of multicomponent submicron sized particles

2.  Studying the chemical processes of submicron particles

3.  Activation of particles to cloud droplets

4.  Electron microscopy of micron sized particles

A. Shemesh 
aldo.shemesh@weizmann.ac.il

Stable isotops and paleoceanography of the Southern Ocean.

Biogenic opal and its use in marine and continental paleo-climate reconstructions.

Oxygen and carbon isotopes in corals.

E. Tziperman 
eli.tziperman@weizmann.ac.il

Large-scale oceanic circulation: the thermohaline circulation, climate stability and variability, ocean and climate modeling.

Global Climate dynamics: glacial-interglacial oscillations.

Combining oceanographic data and models through four dimensional variational data assimilation using the adjoint method.

El-Niñ's dynamics and chaos.

D. Yakir 
dan.yakir@weizmann.ac.il

Environmental influence on the exchange of trace gases between plants and the atmosphere.

Environmental influence on trace gases exchange from soils.

Climatic influence on the natural abundance of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in plants' organic matter.

 This file was last modified on 03/06/2012 13:42:07

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