General Lab Information

Olga Mayol-Bracero

Atmospheric Scientist and Group Leader, ARM Aerosol Observing System Group, Environmental and Climate Sciences Department

Olga Mayol-Bracero

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Environmental and Climate Sciences Department
Bldg. 815, Room 1-5
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

(631) 344-2871
omayolbra@bnl.gov

Dr. Mayol-Bracero is an atmospheric scientist, lead of the Aerosol Observing Systems (AOS) group in the Environmental & Climate Sciences Department at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Dr. Mayol-Bracero research interests are in the temporal and spatial variability of atmospheric aerosols; the characterization of African dust, biomass burning, marine, urban, biogenic aerosols with particular interest in tropical regions; size-resolved aerosols composition and sources; carbonaceous aerosols (organic and black carbon); aerosols-clouds-precipitation interactions; and air quality. She has vast experience leading aerosol field projects and managing field atmospheric stations.  She has participated in a long list of field campaigns that involved ground and airborne deployments including locations as remote as the Maldives, the Amazon Basin, and the Caribbean region.  Dr. Mayol-Bracero is as a member of the International Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution (iCACGP), the World Meteorological Organization’s Scientific Advisory Group on Aerosols, and the Americas Working Group of the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) project.

Expertise | Research | Education | Publications | Highlights


Expertise

Temporal and spatial variability of atmospheric aerosols; chemical, physical, and optical properties of atmospheric aerosols (African dust, biomass burning, marine, urban, biogenic) with particular interest in tropical regions; size-resolved aerosols composition and sources; carbonaceous aerosols (organic and black carbon); aerosols-clouds-precipitation interactions; air quality; the impact of atmospheric aerosols on degradation of structures.

Research Activities

  • 2019-present:  Member, External Advisory Board of the NOAA Cooperative Science Center for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (NCAS-M), Howard University.
  • 2016-present:  Member, WMO Scientific Advisory Group on aerosols.
  • 2015-present:  Member, Scientific Steering Committee of the International Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution (iCACGP)
  • 2015-present:  Co-chair, ad hoc Caribbean Aerosol-Health Network (CAHN)
  • 2014-2017:  Contributing-leading author to the UNEP and CCAC Integrated Assessment of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • 2012-present:  Co-chair, IGAC Americas Working Group (2016-present, co-chair)
  • 2009-2014:  Member, Scientific Steering Committee of the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry Programme (IGAC)
  • 2004-2021:  Director, Pico del Este Cloud Forest Station, in operation since 2004.
  • 2002-2021:  Director, Cape San Juan Atmospheric Observatory (since 2004 part of NOAA ESRL’s aerosol network and NASA’s AERONET; 2004-2015 WMO GAW contributing station, 2015-present WMO GAW regional station, 2019 – present part of NASA’s Pandora and MPLNET).

Education

  • University of Puerto Rico (UPR-RP), Ph.D., 1998, Analytical Chemistry
  • University of Puerto Rico, MS, 1994, Analytical Chemistry
  • University of Puerto Rico, BS, 1989, Chemistry

Selected Publications

  • Tong DQ, Gill TE, Sprigg WA, et al (2023) Health and Safety Effects of Airborne Soil Dust in the Americas and Beyond. Reviews of Geophysics 61:. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021rg000763
  • Sarangi B, Baumgardner D, Bolaños-Rosero B, Mayol-Bracero OL (2022) Measurement report: An exploratory study of fluorescence and cloud condensation nuclei activity of urban aerosols in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 22:9647–9661. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9647-2022
  • Dam TTN, Angert A, Krom MD, et al (2021) X-ray Spectroscopic Quantification of Phosphorus Transformation in Saharan Dust during Trans-Atlantic Dust Transport. Environmental Science & Technology 55:12694–12703. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c01573
  • Rose C, Collaud Coen M, Andrews E, et al (2021) Seasonality of the particle number concentration and size distribution: a global analysis retrieved from the network of Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) near-surface observatories. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 21:17185–17223. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17185-2021
  • Torres-Delgado E, Baumgardner D, Mayol-Bracero OL (2021) Measurement report: Impact of African aerosol particles on cloud evolution in a tropical montane cloud forest in the Caribbean. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 21:18011–18027. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-18011-2021
  • Yu H, Tan Q, Zhou L, et al (2021) Observation and modeling of the historic "Godzilla" African dust intrusion into the Caribbean Basin and the southern US in June 2020. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 21:12359–12383. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-12359-2021
  • Collaud Coen M, Andrews E, Alastuey A, Arsov TP, Backman J, Brem BT, Bukowiecki N, Couret C, Eleftheriadis K, Flentje H, Fiebig M, Gysel-Beer M, Hand JL, Hoffer A, Hooda R, Hueglin C, Joubert W, Keywood M, Kim JE, Kim S-W, Labuschagne C, Lin N-H, Lin Y, Lund Myhre C, Luoma K, Lyamani H, Marinoni A, Mayol-Bracero OL, Mihalopoulos N, Pandolfi M, Prats N, Prenni AJ, Putaud J-P, Ries L, Reisen F, Sellegri K, Sharma S, Sheridan P, Sherman JP, Sun J, Titos G, Torres E, Tuch T, Weller R, Wiedensohler A, Zieger P, Laj P (2020) Multidecadal trend analysis of in situ aerosol radiative properties around the world. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 20:8867–8908. doi: 10.5194/acp-20-8867-2020
  • Bigio L, Mayol-Bracero OL, Santos G, Fishman A, Angert A (2020) Are the phosphate oxygen isotopes of Saharan dust a robust tracer of atmospheric P source? Atmospheric Environment 235:117561. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117561
  • Bolaño-Ortiz TR, Camargo-Caicedo Y, Puliafito SE, Ruggeri MF, Bolaño-Diaz S, Pascual-Flores R, Saturno J, Ibarra-Espinosa S, Mayol-Bracero OL, Torres-Delgado E, Cereceda-Balic F (2020) Spread of SARS-CoV-2 through Latin America and the Caribbean region: A look from its economic conditions, climate and air pollution indicators. Environmental Research 191:109938. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109938
  • Laj P, Bigi A, Rose C, Andrews E, Lund Myhre C, et al. (2020) A global analysis of climate-relevant aerosol properties retrieved from the network of Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) near-surface observatories. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 13:4353–4392. doi: 10.5194/amt-13-4353-2020
  • Andrews E, Sheridan PJ, Ogren JA, Hageman D, Jefferson A, Wendell J, Alástuey A, Alados-Arboledas L, Bergin M, Ealo M, Hallar AG, Hoffer A, Kalapov I, Keywood M, Kim J, Kim S-W, Kolonjari F, Labuschagne C, Lin N-H, Macdonald A, Mayol-Bracero OL, McCubbin IB, Pandolfi M, Reisen F, Sharma S, Sherman JP, Sorribas M, Sun J (2019) Overview of the NOAA/ESRL Federated Aerosol Network. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 100:123–135. doi: 10.1175/bams-d-17-0175.1
  • Subramanian R, Ellis A, Torres-Delgado E, Tanzer R, Malings C, Rivera F, Morales M, Baumgardner D, Presto A, Mayol-Bracero OL (2018) Air Quality in Puerto Rico in the Aftermath of Hurricane Maria: A Case Study on the Use of Lower Cost Air Quality Monitors. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 2:1179–1186. doi: 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.8b00079
  • Schmeisser L, Andrews E, Ogren JA, Sheridan P, Jefferson A, Sharma S, Kim JE, Sherman JP, Sorribas M, Kalapov I, Arsov T, Angelov C, Mayol-Bracero OL, Labuschagne C, Kim S-W, Hoffer A, Lin N-H, Chia H-P, Bergin M, Sun J, Liu P, Wu H (2017) Classifying aerosol type using in situ surface spectral aerosol optical properties. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 17:12097–12120. doi: 10.5194/acp-17-12097-2017
  • Weinzierl B, Ansmann A, Prospero JM, Althausen D, Benker N, Chouza F, Dollner M, Farrell D, Fomba WK, Freudenthaler V, Gasteiger J, Groß S, Haarig M, Heinold B, Kandler K, Kristensen TB, Mayol-Bracero OL, Müller T, Reitebuch O, Sauer D, Schäfler A, Schepanski K, Spanu A, Tegen I, Toledano C, Walser A (2017) The Saharan Aerosol Long-Range Transport and Aerosol–Cloud-Interaction Experiment: Overview and Selected Highlights. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 98:1427–1451. doi: 10.1175/bams-d-15-00142.1
  • Denjean C, Formenti P, Desboeufs K, Chevaillier S, Triquet S, Maillé M, Cazaunau M, Laurent B, Mayol-Bracero OL, Vallejo P, Quiñones M, Gutierrez-Molina IE, Cassola F, Prati P, Andrews E, Ogren J (2016) Size distribution and optical properties of African mineral dust after intercontinental transport. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 121:7117–7138. doi: 10.1002/2016jd024783
  • Andrade-Flores M, Rojas N, Melamed ML, Mayol-Bracero OL, Grutter M, Dawidowski L, Antuña-Marrero JC, Rudamas C, Gallardo L, Mamani-Paco R, Andrade M de F, Huneeus N (2016) Fostering a Collaborative Atmospheric Chemistry Research Community in the Latin America and Caribbean Region. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 97:1929–1939. doi: 10.1175/bams-d-14-00267.1
  • Raga GB, Baumgardner D, Mayol-Bracero OL (2016) History of Aerosol-Cloud Interactions Derived from Observations in Mountaintop Clouds in Puerto Rico. Aerosol and Air Quality Research 16:674–688. doi: 10.4209/aaqr.2015.05.0359
  • Valle-Díaz CJ, Torres-Delgado E, Colón-Santos SM, Lee T, Collett JLJ, McDowell WH, Mayol-Bracero OL (2016) Impact of Long-Range Transported African Dust on Cloud Water Chemistry at a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest in Northeastern Puerto Rico. Aerosol and Air Quality Research 16:653–664. doi: 10.4209/aaqr.2015.05.0320
  • Valle-Díaz CJ, Torres-Delgado E, Colón-Santos SM, Lee T, Collett JLJ, McDowell WH, Mayol-Bracero OL (2016) Impact of Long-Range Transported African Dust on Cloud Water Chemistry at a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest in Northeastern Puerto Rico. Aerosol and Air Quality Research 16:653–664. doi: 10.4209/aaqr.2015.05.0320
  • Fitzgerald E, Ault AP, Zauscher MD, Mayol-Bracero OL, Prather KA (2015) Comparison of the mixing state of long-range transported Asian and African mineral dust. Atmospheric Environment 115:19–25. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.04.031
  • DeMott PJ, Hill TCJ, McCluskey CS, Prather KA, Collins DB, Sullivan RC, Ruppel MJ, Mason RH, Irish VE, Lee T, Hwang CY, Rhee TS, Snider JR, McMeeking GR, Dhaniyala S, Lewis ER, Wentzell JJB, Abbatt J, Lee C, Sultana CM, Ault AP, Axson JL, Diaz Martinez M, Venero I, Santos-Figueroa G, Stokes MD, Deane GB, Mayol-Bracero OL, Grassian VH, Bertram TH, Bertram AK, Moffett BF, Franc GD (2015) Sea spray aerosol as a unique source of ice nucleating particles. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113:5797–5803. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1514034112
  • Denjean C, Caquineau S, Desboeufs K, Laurent B, Maille M, Quiñones Rosado M, Vallejo P, Mayol-Bracero OL, Formenti P (2015) Long-range transport across the Atlantic in summertime does not enhance the hygroscopicity of African mineral dust. Geophysical Research Letters 42:7835–7843. doi: 10.1002/2015gl065693
  • Spiegel JK, Buchmann N, Mayol-Bracero OL, Cuadra-Rodriguez LA, Valle Díaz CJ, Prather KA, Mertes S, Eugster W (2014) Do Cloud Properties in a Puerto Rican Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Depend on Occurrence of Long-Range Transported African Dust? Pure and Applied Geophysics 171:2443–2459. doi: 10.1007/s00024-014-0830-y
  • Prospero JM, Mayol-Bracero OL (2013) Understanding the Transport and Impact of African Dust on the Caribbean Basin. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 94:1329–1337. doi: 10.1175/bams-d-12-00142.1
  • Gioda A, Mayol-Bracero OL, Scatena FN, Weathers KC, Mateus VL, McDowell WH (2013) Chemical constituents in clouds and rainwater in the Puerto Rican rainforest: Potential sources and seasonal drivers. Atmospheric Environment 68:208–220. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.11.017
  • Trebs I, Mayol-Bracero OL, Pauliquevis T, Kuhn U, Sander R, Ganzeveld L, Meixner FX, Kesselmeier J, Artaxo P, Andreae MO (2012) Impact of the Manaus urban plume on trace gas mixing ratios near the surface in the Amazon Basin: Implications for the NO-NO2-O3photostationary state and peroxy radical levels. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 117:n/a–n/a. doi: 10.1029/2011jd016386
  • Fröhlich-Nowoisky J, Burrows SM, Xie Z, Engling G, Solomon PA, Fraser MP, Mayol-Bracero OL, Artaxo P, Begerow D, Conrad R, Andreae MO, Després VR, Pöschl U (2012) Biogeography in the air: fungal diversity over land and oceans. Biogeosciences 9:1125–1136. doi: 10.5194/bg-9-1125-2012

Research Highlights

  • 2014-2021:  Professor and Director of the Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosols Research Lab (ACAR), Director of the Cape San Juan Atmospheric Observatory (NOAA ESRL’s aerosol network, NASA’s AERONET, Pandora and MPLNET networks, part of WMO GAW regional stations) and of the Pico del Este cloud forest station, Department of Environmental Science (former Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies, ITES), UPR-RP
  • 2016-2018:  Visiting Faculty Program, Brookhaven National Laboratory, summers of 2016, 2017 and 2018
  • 2007-2013:  Associate Professor, ITES, UPR-RP
  • 2002-2006:  Assistant Professor, ITES, UPR-RP
  • 1998-2001:  Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
  • 1994-1997:  Research Assistant, Energy and Environment Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, CA
Olga Mayol-Bracero

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Environmental and Climate Sciences Department
Bldg. 815, Room 1-5
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

(631) 344-2871
omayolbra@bnl.gov

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