Investigating regional climate drivers, wildfire mitigation, and air quality responses.

Climate change is increasing wildfire activity in many regions, amplifying air pollution impacts in densely populated areas. This dissertation studies climate drivers, wildfire mitigation, and urban air quality responses to better inform integrated environmental management. Using observations from the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), we first analyze carbon dioxide (CO2) trends across the three highest-emitting U.S. states (Texas, California, and Florida) and relate them to key socioeconomic and environmental drivers. Despite growth in renewable energy, CO2 trends remain dominated by nonrenewable sources, constraining long-term mitigation progress. Recognizing that rising temperatures and drought, driven by increasing CO2 and warming, enhance wildfire risk, we then evaluate the effectiveness of land management as a near-term intervention. Focusing on California, where wildfires are intense and frequent, we assess the most ambitious mitigation pathway under the 2022 California Air Resources Board Scoping Plan, which targets land management of ~250,000 acres annually. Our findings highlight the importance of strategically timed and located interventions, as well as the need to incorporate climate variability into mitigation planning to reduce wildfire-related air pollution and associated health burdens. Finally, we examine how wildfire emissions influence urban air quality downwind, focusing on formaldehyde (HCHO), a reactive atmospheric trace gas and recognized carcinogen. Leveraging ground-based and satellite remote sensing data and model simulations, we find that wildfire emissions drive pronounced HCHO enhancements during summer in Texas cities, while meteorology and chemistry modulate their intensity and spatial extent.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Lindsey, Shannon Michelle, 1997-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Li, Yang, 1982-

• Climate change.
• Wildfires.
• Air quality.
• Atmospheric models.
• Atmospheric chemistry.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/15100

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/15100