Mark J. Potosnak, Ph.D.
Basic Information
Assistant Professor,
Environmental Sciences Program
PhD, Columbia University, 2002
Areas of interest: Interactions
between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere. Specifically,
understanding how plant impacts on atmospheric chemistry will change
in the future.
Phone: 773-325-7867
Fax: 773-325-7447
E-mail: mpotosna@depaul.edu
Office: McGowan South 203F
Address:
Environmental Science Program
McGowan South 203F
1110 W Belden Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
Curriculum vitae (PDF)
Research projects
The common theme of my research is using field observations to understand the complex interactions between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere. In particular, I design field experiments that test hypotheses of how isoprene emissions are impacted by global change factors. Recent studies have been conducted in tropical, urban/arid and tundra ecosystems. These ecosystems are all understudied and also more susceptible to global change factors. For example, unlike the deciduous forests characteristic of temperate ecosystems, there have been few studies on the seasonal controls of isoprene emissions for evergreen and drought deciduous tropical ecosystems. My studies reveal a strong seasonality of emissions that cannot be explained solely by changes in ambient temperature and light. Preliminary research in tundra ecosystems has revealed surprisingly high isoprene emission rates and the potential for rapid increases induced by climate change. Finally, a recent project focused on land use change in a rapidly expanding urban area of the arid southwestern United States and was published in Atmospheric Environment (PDF).
Current experiments with near-real-time data
- Boston University CO2 monitoring
- DePaul University's University Hall residential dorm power monitoring
Courses
Fall 2008
- ENV 101: Introduction to Environmental Science (without lab)
- ENV 102: Introduction to Environmental Science (with lab)
Winter 2009
Spring 2009
- ENV 101: Introduction to Environmental Science (without lab)
Fall 2009
Winter 2010