Dr. Sturm is responsible for conducting wide-ranging geophysical studies on snow in high latitudes. His work has taken him from the Antarctic to the Arctic, and he has been the leader of more than 30 expeditions in winter in pursuit of his science. He is based at the Alaska Office in Fairbanks, but collaborates with a wide range of scientists both at CRREL and elsewhere. His most recent work focuses on the role of snow cover on climate, with particular attention to snow ecology, snow chemistry, and climate change and snow.
Areas of Specialization
* Snow cover
-Its thermal effects
-Its effect on the environment, with particular emphasis on polar and subpolar snow covers
* Spatial distribution of snow covers and ramifications of that distribution on heat and mass transfer
Born and raised in Concord, NH. Dartmouth College undergrad in Earth Sciences (1994), UAF M.S. in Geology (1997), Dartmouth PhD in Earth Sciences (2002).
Specialization in geochemistry with applications to river chemistry, bedrock weathering, soil development and contaminants. Have recently been working on snow and sea ice chemistry and contaminants in the Arctic. Contaminants include arctic haze and mercury. Live in Fairbanks with wife Sarah and two sled dog mutts.
Bill Simpson studies atmospheric chemistry using spectroscopic techniques. He is interested in halogen activation and how reactive halogens catalyse mercury deposition to snow.
Twig grew up in a family of naturalists. Her mother, Jean Craighead George, has written over one hundred children's books and pioneered the genre of scientific literature for children. Twig's father, grandfather and uncles were all biologists dedicated to the study of wildlife and ecology. In the midst of this creative, scientific family Twig and her two brothers, Craig and Luke helped raise over 173 wild animals in their relatively normal suburban house.
Twig received her Bachelor's degree from Bennington College and a Master's in Child Development from Bank Street College of Education. She has taught young children, developed curriculum and worked as Director of Education for the Center for Marine Conservation in Washington, DC. Mother of two daughters, Katie and Rebecca, she now lives in Cockeysville, Maryland with her family and a small but select group of pets. Fortunately, her husband, David Pittenger, is Director of the National Aquarium in Baltimore. The Aquarium is home to over 5,000 animals so Twig and her girls enjoy the company of many more species than they could fit in their own house.
