Susan Solomon

Susan Solomon Susan Solomon is an American atmospheric chemist and climate scientist noted for pioneering work on stratospheric chemistry and the Antarctic ozone depletion. She led field campaigns and theoretical analyses that linked polar stratospheric clouds and heterogeneous reactions to seasonal ozone loss, influencing international policy such as the Montreal Protocol. Her career spans major institutions and advisory roles, combining observational campaigns, laboratory kinetics, and modeling to address problems in atmospheric composition and climate forcing.

Early life and education

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Solomon completed undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago and pursued graduate training at the University of California, Berkeley. During doctoral work she focused on atmospheric spectroscopy and chemical processes relevant to stratosphere composition, interacting with research groups at National Aeronautics and Space Administration centers. Early mentors and collaborators included scientists affiliated with Harvard University and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, fostering cross-institutional ties that shaped her approach to combining field measurements with theoretical models.

Scientific career and research

Solomon established a research trajectory that integrated laboratory kinetics, in situ observations, and numerical modeling. She led expeditions to polar regions, collaborating with teams from the British Antarctic Survey, Australian Antarctic Division, and French Polar Institute Paul-Émile Victor to collect stratospheric trace-gas and aerosol data. Her group at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration coordinated balloon-borne and satellite validation experiments with instruments from National Aeronautics and Space Administration missions such as Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite and Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer. Solomon’s modeling efforts involved coupling chemical transport models with radiative transfer schemes developed alongside researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Princeton University. She also participated in major assessment reports produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and advised agencies including the National Science Foundation and Environmental Protection Agency on stratospheric research priorities.

Contributions to atmospheric chemistry and ozone science

Her most-cited contribution was elucidating the mechanism behind the seasonal Antarctic ozone depletion: demonstrating that heterogeneous chemistry on polar stratospheric cloud surfaces activates chlorine reservoirs leading to catalytic ozone loss. This work synthesized observations from ship-based, aircraft, and satellite platforms with laboratory reaction-rate measurements from collaborators at California Institute of Technology and University College London. The finding provided a mechanistic explanation that linked observed ozone column declines to anthropogenic halogen emissions regulated by the Montreal Protocol and subsequent amendments negotiated at meetings involving participants from United Nations Environment Programme and member states. Solomon’s publications quantified feedbacks between stratospheric temperature changes, circulation perturbations associated with the Southern Annular Mode, and ozone recovery trajectories evaluated with coupled chemistry–climate models used by groups at National Center for Atmospheric Research and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. She also advanced understanding of polar mesospheric clouds, odd-nitrogen chemistry, and the influence of volcanic aerosols on stratospheric composition, collaborating with institutes such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Awards and honors

Her scientific leadership has been recognized by numerous prizes and memberships. She received the National Medal of Science and the Blue Planet Prize for contributions to atmospheric science and environmental policy. Professional societies honored her with awards including the Vernadsky Medal (SCAR) and the Wegener Medal, and she was elected to academies such as the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Solomon has been a recipient of honorary degrees from institutions including Harvard University and the University of Cambridge, and held fellowships with the American Geophysical Union and the Royal Society.

Later career, advocacy, and public engagement

In later career phases she has combined research leadership with public communication and policy advising. Serving on advisory boards for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and panels convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, she translated complex atmospheric science for policymakers at forums like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations. Solomon engaged in outreach through lectures at universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Columbia University and through appearances in media organized by outlets including Science magazine and the New York Times. Her advocacy emphasized evidence-based solutions for ozone and climate, participating in international workshops with participants from the World Meteorological Organization and regional research consortia. She continues to mentor scientists, collaborate on multi-institutional projects, and contribute to assessments that guide global environmental stewardship.

Category:American chemists Category:Atmospheric scientists Category:National Medal of Science recipients