Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry

18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, California 91330-8241

Phone: (818) 677-1200
Fax: (818) 677-4068M
E-mail: chemistry@csun.edu

Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8:00am-5:00pm

Contact the Department Webmaster

 


Daniel B. Curtis

Daniel Curtis

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
California State University, Northridge
Northridge, California, 91330-8262

telephone: (818) 677-2479
e-mail: daniel.curtis@csun.edu
fax: (818) 677-4068

Office: Citrus Hall 3313



EDUCATION

  • B.S., Emory University, 1997
  • Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder, 2004

POSTDOCTORAL APPOINTMENT

  • University of Iowa, 2005-2007
  • University of California, Los Angeles, 2007-2008

COURSES TAUGHT

  • Chemistry 100, Principles of Chemistry
  • Chemistry 101, General Chemistry I
  • Chemistry 321, Chemical Analysis I
  • Chemistry 422L, Chemical Analysis II Laboratory
  • Chemistry 522, Advanced Analytical Chemistry
  • Chemistry 541, Environmental Chemistry I
  • Chemistry 541L, Environmental Chemistry I Laboratory
  • Science 100, Science for Life

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Analytical and Environmental Chemistry

Dr. Curtis’ research interests include the spectroscopic properties of atmospheric aerosol particles. Particles in the atmosphere affect visibility, global climate, and human health, yet their optical properties and effects on Earth’s radiation budget are poorly understood.

The Curtis lab currently performs laboratory and field measurements of the absorbance and scattering of light by naturally occurring aerosol particles and their interaction with pollution gases to determine their effect on global climate and visibility. In addition, the optical properties of the particles are needed to interpret remote sensing data of particles from space and ground-based measurements.

Spectroscopic techniques used in the Curtis lab include cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS), UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, UV/Vis transmission spectroscopy, and laser spectroscopy of angular scattering from particles.



REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

  1. "A Portable High-Resolution Polar Nephelometer for Measurement of the Angular Scattering Properties of Atmospheric Aerosol: Design and Validation," McCrowey, C.; Tinilau, S.; Calderon, G.; Koo, J.-E.; Curtis, D.B. Aerosol Science and Technology (2013), DOI: 10.1080/02786826.2013.775400, in press.

  2. "Probing the Source of Hydrogen Peroxide Associated with Coarse Mode Aerosol Particles in Southern California," Wang, Y.; Arellanes, C.; Curtis, D.B.; Paulson, S.E. Environmental Science & Technology (2010) 44(11), 4070-4075, DOI: 10.1021/es100593k.

  3. "A laboratory investigation of light scattering from representative components of mineral dust aerosol at a wavelength of 550 nm," Curtis, D. B.; Meland, B.; Aycibin, M.; Arnold, N. P.; Grassian, V. H.; Young, M. A.; Kleiber, P. D. Journal of Geophysical Research (Atmospheres) (2008) 113, D08210, doi:10.1029/2007JD009387.

  4. "Laboratory studies of methane and ethane adsorption and nucleation onto organic particles: Application to Titan's clouds," Curtis, D. B.; Hatch, C. D.; Hasenkopf, C. A.; Toon, O. B.; Tolbert, M. A.; McKay, C. P.; Khare, B. N. Icarus (2008) 195, 792-801.

  5. "Simultaneous measurement of light-scattering properties and particle size distribution for aerosols: Application to ammonium sulfate and quartz aerosol particles," Curtis, D. B.; Aycibin, M.; Young, M. A.; Grassian, V.H.; Kleiber, P. D. Atmospheric Environment (2007) 41, 4748-4758.

  6. "Simultaneous measurement of light-scattering properties and particle size distribution for aerosols: Application to ammonium sulfate and quartz aerosol particles," Curtis, D. B.; Aycibin, M.; Young, M. A.; Grassian, V. H.; Kleiber, P. D. Atmospheric Environment (2007) 41, 4748-4758.

  7. "Laboratory studies of butane nucleation on organic haze particles: Application to Titan’s clouds," Curtis, D. B., Glandorf, D. L., Toon, O. B., Tolbert, M. A., McKay, C. P., Khare, B. N. Journal of Physical Chemistry A (2005) 109(7), 1382-1390.

  8. "Measurement of the temperature-dependent optical constants of water ice in the 15-200 um range," Curtis, D. B., Rajaram, B., Toon, O. B., Tolbert, M. A. Applied Optics (2005) 44(19), 4102-4118.

  9. "Temperature-dependent optical constants of water ice in the near infrared: New results and critical review of the available measurements," Rajaram, B., Glandorf, D. L., Curtis, D. B., Tolbert, M. A., Toon, O. B., Ockman, N. Applied Optics (2001) 40(25), 4449-4462.

M. S. THESES

  • "Laboratory studies of phase transition changes of atmospherically relevant salts by UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy", Greeshma Chen Reddy (MS Chemistry 2011).

     

    "Laboratory studies of the optical properties of atmospheric aerosol particles using cavity-enhanced aerosol extinction spectroscopy (CE-AES)", Abdur Rasheed (MS Chemistry 2010).