Dr. Thierry Leblanc is an atmospheric scientist, Principal Investigator for the JPL atmospheric lidar measurement programs initiated at the JPL Table Mountain Facility (CA) in the late 1980s. His research interests are centered on lidar-based observations of the composition and dynamics of Earth's atmosphere. Most of his work has focused on the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) and Raman lidar measurements performed at the JPL Table Mountian Facility in California since 1989 and the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii since 1993. He is responsible for all lidar raw data processing and retrieval algorithms which convert the raw observations of laser light backscattered by the atmosphere into vertical profiles of ozone, temperature, water vapor, and aerosols. He also is responsible for all surface, drone-based, and balloon-borne measurements performed in support of the lidar observation program, i.e., surface ozone, ozonesoundings, PTU radiosoundings, Frost-Point Hygrometer sondes, and UAV-based measurements. Thierry received his M.S. in Applied Physics (1990), and Ph.D in Atmospheric Physics (1995) from the Pierre and Marie Curie University in France.
Personnel
Dr. Thierry Leblanc, Scientist, Principal Investigator
Mark Brewer, Technologist
Mark Brewer is a Research Technologist in JPL's Atmospheric Lidar Group at the JPL Table Mountain Facility. His expertise comprises the operation, maintenance and optimization of lidar instruments as well as the preparation and launch of multiple types of balloon-borne sondes, and Lidar's System Administrator. Mark is a NASA certified sUAS safety pilot and operates the JPL Lidar Team's UAV for near-surface measurements. He is the primary contact for all network and IT security for the Lidar Program. Mark received his B.S. in Applied Physics from California State University, San Bernardino.
Dr. Fernando Chouza, Scientist
Dr. Chouza received his Electronic Engineer degree from the University of Buenos Aires in 2012. Meanwhile, he worked on the development of lidar systems for atmospheric observations at the Lidar division of CITEDEF. His PhD research at DLR (German Aerospace Center) focused on the study of Saharan dust long-range transport based on airborne Doppler wind lidar measurements conducted in the frame of the SALTRACE campaign. Fernando joined the JPL-TMF Lidar Team in 2017 as a Postdoctoral fellow to study ozone changes in the boundary layer near TMF, and to implement a full automation of the JPL lidars. Currently, his work focuses on the use of near-ground ozone and aerosol lidar measurements for air quality studies and model evaluation.
Darryl Koon, Research Technician
Darryl Koon was born and raised in Hawaii and has lived on 3 of the islands: Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawaii. Darryl received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Throughout his carreer, Darryl worked at 4 different observatories on 2 of the 3 highest mountains in Hawaii. He is especially interested in science involving the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon. He enjoys working with his hands and mind on many types of technologically advanced systems and projects. He joined the JPL Lidar Team in 2016 to run, maintain and troubleshoot the JPL Lidar at the Mauna Loa Observatory, thus providing critically-needed routine measurements of atmospheric composition for NDACC.
Patrick Wang, Technologist
Patrick Wang is a Technologist in the Laboratory Studies and Atmospheric Observations Group. His work focuses on the development and maintenance of various lidar systems at the Table Mountain Facility (TMF) and at the Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) in Hawaii to investigate long-term atmospheric changes in the troposphere and stratosphere. Furthermore, he supports all surface and balloon-borne instruments at TMF, such as ozonesoundings, PTU radiosoundings, and Frost-Point Hygrometers. Patrick also acts as Lidar's Systems Rep and the JPL Lidar webpage's webmaster. Prior to his current position at JPL, Patrick worked at Mercedes Benz Technology Center in Germany where he analyzed the thermal and tribological characteristics of internal combustion engines. Patrick received his Master's in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Stuttgart in Germany.