Mr Ian Galbally

Dr Ian Galbally: understanding our atmosphere

Dr Ian Galbally researches natural processes and human activities that affect the composition and chemistry of the atmosphere and thereby influence climate and air quality.

• 8 September 2011 | Updated 14 October 2011

Overview

• Current activities
• Background
• Academic qualifications
• Achievements

Current activities

Dr Ian Galbally’s research into air pollution and the composition and chemistry of the atmosphere is improving our understanding of the sources and sinks of atmospheric gases and aerosol that influence climate change and human health.

Dr Galbally, of CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Division, leads a small group of researchers working to improve the understanding of the role in climate and air quality of reactive gases including ozone, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the role of these gases in the production of atmospheric aerosol.

Dr Galbally is involved in international activities to improve the measurement and monitoring of tropospheric ozone and to determine long term trends in tropospheric ozone in the background atmosphere. Tropospheric ozone is evaluated to be the third most important cause of anthropogenic greenhouse forcing after carbon dioxide and methane.

Dr Galbally is also researching:

• the science of air pollutant and greenhouse gas inventories
• indoor air quality.

Background

Dr Galbally’s recent work with CSIRO has included:

• Leading a major study that made extensive measurements of indoor air quality and its causes in typical homes in Australia’s temperate climate zone
  
• working with Professor Allen Goldstein of the University of California, Berkley, to determine that organic aerosols produced by chemical reactions in the atmosphere may be the dominant aerosols in the background atmosphere. This means that organic  aerosol would play a significant role in climate processes. See: Known and Unexplored Organic Constituents in the Earth's Atmosphere
  
• working in the (now closed) Light Metals Flagship to understand and provide insights for the control of volatile organic compounds that arise from alumina refining. These compounds have caused community complaints and health concerns in the areas surrounding at least one Australian alumina refinery.

Academic qualifications

Dr Galbally has been awarded:

• a Bachelor of Science, Monash University, Victoria, Australia, in 1966
• a Masters of Science, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 1972
• a Doctor of Science, Monash University, Australia, 2011.

Achievements

Dr Galbally was the recipient of:

• the Nuffield Foundation Travelling Fellowship, 1976-77
• the Werner Strauss Achievement Award, Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand, 2004
• UNEP/WMO Recognition Letter for contributing to the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the IPCC, 2007
• Honorary membership of the International Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution, IUGG, 2010
• The Clean Air Medal of the Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand, 2011.

He has served on many international and national committees, and is currently on:

• the Editorial Board of the Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry
• the Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Committee
• the Cape Grim Working Group
• the Scientific Advisory Group on Reactive Gases, Global Atmospheric Watch, World Meteorological Organisation
• the International Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution (Honorary member). 

He is a Fellow of:

• the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
• the Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand
• the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.

Dr Galbally has also:

• published more than 70 papers in international scientific journals
• published more than 110 papers in conference proceedings, reports and chapters in books
• published 40 consultancy reports
• edited two books and two major international reports.

For more on Dr Galbally’s publications see the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research publications database.