Primary Advisor: Kimberly Strong
Secondary Advisor: John Moores
Mr. Shoma Yamanouchi completed his Bachelor of Science (Joint Honours Physics and Mathematics) from McGill University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Physics at University of Toronto. He has worked as a Physics Research Assistant at McGill University and is currently working as a Physics PhD Research at University of Toronto.
Shoma joined Dr. Kimberly Strong’s group in September 2016 as a direct-entry PhD student, having received his BSc in Joint Honours Physics and Mathematics from McGill University. Over the past two terms, he has received training in FTIR instrument operations and has been involved in making daily measurements with the FTIR spectrometer.
Although the focus of Shoma’s PhD is on the terrestrial atmosphere, the methods of remote sounding using infrared spectroscopy are also relevant to studies of the atmospheres of other planets in our solar system and of exoplanets. Shoma is interested in exploring connections to such applications through his engagement with TEPS. ABB Inc. is also a potential match for an industrial internship, given that Shoma’s PhD is based on the use of an ABB FTIR spectrometer. In fact, my group runs three ABB instruments, and have been involved with ABB and Bomem for many years through a variety of projects and satellite missions.
Relevance to TEPS
Shoma’s PhD research involves the use of infrared solar absorption spectroscopy at the University of Toronto Atmospheric Observatory (TAO) to study atmospheric composition, with a focus on tropospheric trace gases that are related to air quality. His project has two components: (i) measurements of FTIR spectra and application of methods for retrieving concentrations of atmospheric constituents, and (ii) investigation of processes related to the origin, concentration, and transport of pollutants. Shoma’s research is timely and has the potential to improve our understanding of air quality issues, particularly with regard to assessing what changes are occurring, their causes, and the effects of regulatory policies. He will also use TAO data to contribute to the validation of the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI), a satellite instrument on board of the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite.
