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Susan Solomon

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For the co-founder of the New York Stem Cell Foundation, see Susan L. Solomon.

Susan Solomon
Solomon in 2018
Born
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Alma mater
Known forOzone Studies
AwardsNational Medal of Science (1999)
V. M. Goldschmidt Award (2006)
William Bowie Medal (2007)
Volvo Environment Prize (2009)
Vetlesen Prize (2012)
BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2012)
Crafoord Prize (2018)
Scientific career
FieldsAtmospheric chemistry
InstitutionsMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Susan Solomon is an American atmospheric chemist, working for most of her career at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).[1] In 2011, Solomon joined the faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she serves as the Ellen Swallow Richards Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry & Climate Science.[2] Solomon, with her colleagues, was the first to propose the chlorofluorocarbon free radical reaction mechanism that is the cause of the Antarctic ozone hole.[1] Her most recent book, Solvable: how we healed the earth, and how we can do it again (2024) focuses on solutions to current problems, as do books by data scientist Hannah Ritchie, marine biologist, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe.[3]

Solomon is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the European Academy of Sciences, and the French Academy of Sciences.[4] In 2002, Discover magazine recognized her as one of the 50 most important women in science.[5] In 2008, Solomon was selected by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.[6] She also serves on the Science and Security Board for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.[7]

Biography

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Susan Solomon, 2010

Early life

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Solomon was born in Chicago, Illinois.[8][9] Her interest in science began as a child watching The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.[8] In high school she placed third in a national science competition, with a project that measured the percentage of oxygen in a gas mixture.[8]

Solomon received a B.S. degree in chemistry from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1977. She then received an M.S. in chemistry in 1979 followed by a Ph.D. in 1981 in atmospheric chemistry, both from the University of California, Berkeley.[1]

Personal life

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Solomon married Barry Sidwell in 1988.[10] She is Jewish.[11]

Work

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Solomon was the head of the Chemistry and Climate Processes Group of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Chemical Sciences Division until 2011. In 2011, she joined the faculty of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[12]

Books

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  • The Coldest March: Scott's Fatal Antarctic Expedition,[13] Yale University Press, 2002 ISBN 0-300-09921-5 – Depicts the tale of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's failed 1912 Antarctic expedition, specifically applying the comparison of modern meteorological data with that recorded by Scott's expedition in an attempt to shed new light on the reasons for the demise of Scott's polar party.[14][15]
  • Aeronomy of the Middle Atmosphere: Chemistry and Physics of the Stratosphere and Mesosphere, 3rd Edition, Springer, 2005 ISBN 1-4020-3284-6 – Describes the atmospheric chemistry and physics of the middle atmosphere from 10 to 100 kilometres (6.2 to 62.1 mi) altitude.[16]
  • Solomon, Susan (2024). Solvable: how we healed the earth, and how we can do it again. Chicago ; London: The University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226827933.[3]

The Ozone Hole

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Solomon, working with colleagues at the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratories, postulated the mechanism that the Antarctic ozone hole was created by a heterogeneous reaction of ozone and chlorofluorocarbons free radicals on the surface of ice particles in the high altitude clouds that form over Antarctica. In 1986 and 1987 Solomon led the National Ozone Expedition to McMurdo Sound, where the team gathered the evidence to confirm the accelerated reactions.[1] Solomon was the solo leader of the expedition, and the only woman on the team.[17] Her team measured levels of chlorine oxide 100 times higher than expected in the atmosphere, which had been released by the decomposition of chlorofluorocarbons by ultraviolet radiation.[18]

Solomon later showed that volcanoes could accelerate the reactions caused by chlorofluorocarbons, and so increase the damage to the ozone layer. Her work formed the basis of the U.N. Montreal Protocol, an international agreement to protect the ozone layer by regulating damaging chemicals.[8][19] Solomon has also presented some research which suggests that implementation of the Montreal Protocols is having a positive effect.[20][21]

For her critical contribution to saving the ozone layer, Solomon was a winner of the 2021 Future of Life Award along with Joe Farman and Stephen O. Andersen. Jim Hansen, former Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Director of Columbia University's Program on Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions said, "In Farman, Solomon and Andersen we see the tremendous impact individuals can have not only on the course of human history, but on the course of our planet's history. My hope is that others like them will emerge in today's battle against climate change."[22] Professor Guus Velders, a climate scientist at Utrecht University said, "Susan Solomon is a deserving recipient of the Future of Life Award. Susan not only explained the processes behind the formation of the ozone hole, she also played an active role as an interface between the science and policy of the Montreal Protocol."[22]

The Coldest March – A book

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Using research work conducted by English explorer and navy officer Robert Falcon Scott, Solomon also wrote and spoke about Scott's 1911 expedition inThe Coldest March: Scott's Fatal Antarctic Expedition[13] to counter a longstanding argument that blamed Scott for his and his crew's demise during that expedition. Scott attributed his death to unforeseen weather conditions – a claim that has been contested by British journalist and author Roland Huntford. Huntford claimed that Scott was a prideful and under-prepared leader. Solomon has defended Scott and said that "modern data side squarely with Scott", describing the weather conditions in 1911 as unusual.[23]

In the voluminous book (778 pages, 150+21 figures, 1444 references, 23 maps, 39 tables and 2 schemes) recently published by Dr. Krzysztof Sienicki,[24] a theoretical physicist, Chapter 4 of this book examines Dr. Susan Solomon's analysis of the Terra Nova Expedition and demonstrates numerous errors and misrepresentations in her work. Below is a concise summary of the key findings including the key errors and criticisms:

1. Data Manipulation and Cherry-Picking: Dr. Solomon is accused of selectively presenting temperature data to falsely suggest that Captain Roald Amundsen experienced more favorable conditions than Captain Scott. Specifically, she omitted data points that contradicted her argument, such as temperatures above the long-term mean (pages 174–179 and 227–244),[25] [26]

2. Fabrication of Meteorological Data: The chapter claims that Solomon fabricated temperature data to support her thesis of an "Extreme Cold Snap." She is accused of falsifying temperature trends and extending analysis periods to include unrelated warm days to "warm up" data(pages 248–182 and 702–715),[27] [28]

3. Logical Fallacies: Solomon is critiqued for employing the Gambler’s fallacy, cherry-picking, and affirming the consequent to support her conclusions about the weather conditions faced by Captain Scott (pages 165–198 and 210–229),[29] [30]

4. Misrepresentation of Statistical Methods: Solomon allegedly failed to conduct proper statistical error analysisStatistics, hypothesis testing, and probability distribution analysis, which undermines the credibility of her conclusions (pages 192–200 and 700–710),[31] [32]

5. Misinterpretation of Historical Data: Solomon is accused of attributing modern weather station data incorrectly to the conditions of 1912. This includes comparing non-interchangeable geographical locations and inaccurately interpreting automated weather station readings (pages 165–170 and 255–289),[33] [34]

6. Subjective Assessments and Bias: The chapter accuses Solomon of dismissing Captain Scott's responsibility by attributing his failures solely to luck and weather, which is labeled as an overly subjective and biased approach (pages 179–181 and 220–223),[35] [36]

7. Errors in Critical Figures and Tables: The document identifies discrepancies in Solomon's figures and tables, noting that none of them accurately represent the true meteorological data from the Terra Nova expedition (pages 178–211 and 702–711).[37] [38]

For a summary of Solomon's errors and manipulations, see also Chapter 17 (p. 658) and the following sections:

  • Appendix 2 (p. 658)[39]: Errors and Fallacies in Drs. Solomon and Stearns' paper, "On the Role of the Weather in the Deaths of R. F. Scott and his Companions."
  • Appendix 3 (p. 668)[40]: Data Dragging and Fabrication in Dr. Solomon's book, "The Coldest March: Scott's Fatal Antarctic Expedition."

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

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Solomon served on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.[1] She was a contributing author for the Third Assessment Report.[41] She was also co-chair of Working Group I for the Fourth Assessment Report.[42]

External audio
audio icon “Whatever Happened to the Ozone Hole?”, Distillations Podcast Episode 230, April 17, 2018, Science History Institute

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "InterViews". National Academy of Sciences. July 26, 2004. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  2. ^ "People". Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences website. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Buckley, Cara (July 18, 2024). "Solving Problems With Susan Solomon". The New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  4. ^ "Susan Solomon: Pioneering Atmospheric Scientist". Top Tens: History Makers. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. January 5, 2007. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  5. ^ Svitil, Kathy (November 13, 2002). "The 50 Most Important Women in Science". Discover. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  6. ^ "The 2008 TIME 100", Time.
  7. ^ "Science and Security Board". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d "Susan Solomon". Science History Institute. June 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  9. ^ "Solomon, Susan (1956– ) | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  10. ^ Oakes, Elizabeth H. (2007). Encyclopedia of world scientists. New York: Facts on File. p. 679. ISBN 9781438118826.
  11. ^ "MIT's Jewish environmental warrior: 'Earth has a budget'". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. September 12, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  12. ^ Krajick, Kevin (January 14, 2013). "Two Climate Scientists Win 2012 Vetlesen Prize for Work on Ozone Hole, Ice Cores". Lamont -Doherty Earth Observatory. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  13. ^ a b Solomon, S. (2001). The Coldest March: Scott's Fatal Antarctic Expedition. London: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300089677. OCLC 45661501.
  14. ^ MacFarlane, Robert (October 7, 2001). "In from the cold..." The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  15. ^ Wheeler, Sara (September 2, 2001). "Great Scott?". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  16. ^ Brasseur, Guy; Solomon, Susan (2005). Aeronomy of the middle atmosphere: chemistry and physics of the stratosphere and mesosphere. Dordrecht: Springer. ISBN 1-4020-3284-6.
  17. ^ Indivero, Victoria M. (Fall 2010). "Changing views on climate". Chemical Heritage Magazine. 28 (3): 13.
  18. ^ Nickel, Mark (April 28, 2015). "Brown confers six honorary degrees". Brown University. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  19. ^ Daley, Megan (June 30, 2016). "Decades after the Montreal Protocol, there are signs the hole in the ozone layer has begun to heal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  20. ^ "Ozone layer on the mend thirty years after CFCs banned". Irish Times. July 1, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  21. ^ Solomon, S.; Ivy, D. J.; Kinnison, D.; Mills, M. J.; Neely, R. R.; Schmidt, A. (July 15, 2016). "Emergence of healing in the Antarctic ozone layer". Science. 353 (6296): 269–274. Bibcode:2016Sci...353..269S. doi:10.1126/science.aae0061. hdl:1721.1/107197. PMID 27365314.
  22. ^ a b c "Future Of Life Award". Future of Life Institute. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  23. ^ Monastersky, Richard (September 7, 2001). "History's Cold Shoulder". The Chronicle of Higher Education: A20.
  24. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (2016). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities (Three Volumes Bound as One). Open Academic Press. ISBN 9788394452001.
  25. ^ "Captain Scott Icy Deceits and Untold Realities by Krzysztof Sienicki". November 2015.
  26. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (November 2015). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities. p. 227. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  27. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (November 2015). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities. p. 248. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  28. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (November 2015). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities. p. 702. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  29. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (November 2015). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities. p. 165. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  30. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (November 2015). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities. p. 210. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  31. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (November 2015). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities. p. 192. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  32. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (November 2015). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities. p. 700. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  33. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (November 2015). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities. p. 165. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  34. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (November 2015). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities. p. 255. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  35. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (November 2015). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities. p. 179. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  36. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (November 2015). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities. p. 220. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  37. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (November 2015). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities. p. 178. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  38. ^ Sienicki, Krzysztof (November 2015). Captain Scott: Icy Deceits and Untold Realities. p. 702. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  39. ^ "Captain Scott Icy Deceits and Untold Realities by Krzysztof Sienicki". November 2015.
  40. ^ "Captain Scott Icy Deceits and Untold Realities by Krzysztof Sienicki". November 2015.
  41. ^ Houghton, J.T.; et al. (2001). "Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis". Third Assessment Report. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. p. 21. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  42. ^ Herbert, Betsy; et al. (2007). "Climate Change 2007 The Physical Science Basis" (PDF). Fourth Assessment Report. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  43. ^ a b "AMS Awards and Nomination Information". American Meteorological Society. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
  44. ^ "The Henry G. Houghton Award". American Meteorological Society. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  45. ^ "1999 National Medals of Science and Technology". Scientific American. National Science and Technology Medals Foundation. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  46. ^ "Blue Planet Prize: The Laureates". Blue Plant Prize website. Asahi Glass Foundation. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  47. ^ "V. M. Goldschmidt Award". Geochemical Society. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  48. ^ "Honorees By Year of Induction". Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  49. ^ "Susan Solomon Honored as AGU's 2007 William Bowie Medalist". Earth System Research Laboratories. July 16, 2007. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  50. ^ "Remise de la Grande Médaille par Jules Hoffmann, Président de l'Académie,à Susan Solomon" (PDF). November 25, 2008. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  51. ^ "Susan Solomon". Royal Society. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  52. ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  53. ^ "Susan Solomon". Volvo Environment Prize website. Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  54. ^ "Women of the Hall: Susan Solomon". National Women's Hall of Fame website. National Women's Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  55. ^ "2010 Career Achievement Medal Recipient". Service to America Medals website. Partnership for Public Service. 2010. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  56. ^ a b "Susan Solomon wins Vetlesen Prize – MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences". eapsweb.mit.edu. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  57. ^ EAPS (January 14, 2013). "Susan Solomon wins international climate award". MIT. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  58. ^ Nickel, Mark (April 28, 2015). "Brown awards six honorary doctorates". Brown University. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  59. ^ "About the Arthur L. Day Prize and Lectureship". National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  60. ^ "Susan Solomon awarded the Royal Society's Bakerian Medal". mit.edu. July 18, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  61. ^ "Outstanding researchers honoured by the Royal Society". The Royal Society. July 18, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  62. ^ "Crafoord Prize 2018". crafoordprize.se. January 17, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  63. ^ Tom Shoop (August 15, 2019). "Inaugural Inductees Into Government Hall of Fame Unveiled – Government Executive". Govexec.com. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  64. ^ "Susan Solomon". www.nasonline.org. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  65. ^ "Meet the 2023 Commencement Speaker, Honorary Degree Recipients". Duke Today.
  66. ^ Nhu, Quynh (December 21, 2023). "Battery researchers win $3M Vietnamese awards". VnExpress.
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