Charles K. Gatebe, Associate Research Scientist

GEST Research Group:

Terrestrial Physics

GSFC Code:

613.2

Mailing Address:

Climate and Radiation Branch
Building 33, Rm A321
NASA GSFC, Code 613.2
Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA

Phone:

(301) 614-6228

Fax:

(301) 614-6307
(301) 614-6420

Email:

charles.k.gatebe@nasa.gov

URL:

Cloud Absorption Radiometer Web page

Research Interests:

Simultaneous retrieval of bidirectional reflectance function (BRDF) and aerosol optical properties from airborne multispectral and multiangular measurement. Conduct co-located surface, airborne and satellite measurements for the purpose of validating and improving algorithms.

Biography:

Dr. Charles K. Gatebe received a B.S. in meteorology, mathematics, and physics, and a M.S. in meteorology, both from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, in 1990 and 1994, respectively. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in atmospheric sciences from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, in 2000. Dr. Gatebe holds the position of lecturer at the Institute of Nuclear Science, University of Nairobi, where he teaches courses on air pollution using nuclear-related techniques. He came to GSFC in 1999 as a resident research associate of the Universities Space Research Association. He is currently on leave from his faculty position in Kenya while working as an atmospheric scientist at GEST. Dr. Gatebe's research experience includes developing a simple Gaussian model to estimate motor vehicle emissions from line sources (highways) in Nairobi, in situ measurements of aerosols and gases, and characterizing aerosol sources using statistical and trajectory methods. He has been involved with the International Atomic Energy Agency, has coordinated a research project on air pollution using nuclear-related analytic techniques, and, in 1994-1995, he was a member of the United Nations Environmental Programme/World Health Organization's Global Environmental Monitoring System/Air team of experts. Currently, Dr. Gatebe is interested in remote sensing of aerosols and clouds to better understand their role in climate variability and change. He is also involved with modification of NASA's Cloud Absorption Radiometer to provide a modern data acquisition system and UV optical channels suitable for remote sensing of aerosols. Dr. Gatebe won the 2000 World Meteorological Organization Young Scientist Award.