Atmospheric chemistry is one of the most vital yet misunderstood fields in modern science. As we face global challenges like climate change and air quality shifts, the role of the atmospheric chemist has moved from the laboratory to the front lines of environmental policy. Below, we explore the education, daily challenges, and research breakthroughs that define this career path.
An Interview with Dr. Dale Hurst, NOAA Research Scientist
Editor’s Note: As part of our Science Career Series, we are proud to host this primary-source interview with Dr. Dale Hurst of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Originally highlighted as a “Real World Science” resource by major academic publishers, this profile provides a firsthand look into the vital work of monitoring our planet’s atmosphere.
The Path to Atmospheric Science
Q: What is your educational background?
Dr. Hurst: I earned a B.S. (’83), M.S. (’87), and Ph.D. (’90) in chemistry, all from the University of California, Irvine (UCI). Though my Ph.D. diploma officially labels me as a physical chemist, my thesis research was almost entirely in the field of atmospheric chemistry. Since graduation, I have worked in Australia as a post-doctoral fellow and am currently a research scientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Q: When did you first become interested in atmospheric chemistry?
Dr. Hurst: During my last year as an undergraduate at UCI, a friend of mine convinced me to look into being a research assistant in a chemistry laboratory. He was working in the atmospheric chemistry research laboratory of Professor F. Sherwood Rowland (Nobel Laureate), so I paid a visit to that laboratory to see what the scientists were doing.
I was very impressed with the questions they were trying to answer about the atmosphere, especially those pertaining to stratospheric ozone depletion and forced climate change. Although I had no specific training in atmospheric chemistry, I took an immediate interest in the topic, mainly because it dealt with current environmental problems of great importance to everybody on the planet.
Life as an Atmospheric Chemist
Q: What exactly does an atmospheric chemist do?
Dr. Hurst: Atmospheric chemistry is a multi-disciplinary field that falls under the much broader scope of atmospheric science. Atmospheric chemists are fundamentally interested in the chemical composition of the atmosphere and how the chemical constituents interact with each other, sunlight, and many parts of the Earth’s surface, including soils, vegetation, oceans, ice, and snow.
One very important question that atmospheric chemists try to answer is: “What are the local, regional, and global impacts of all these changes in atmospheric composition?”
Q: What has been the most challenging/difficult part of your job?
Dr. Hurst: Performing large-scale experiments away from my home laboratory is definitely the biggest challenge. My typical field sites are remote places such as the northern part of Sweden or the Trans-Siberian railway in Russia. In these remote places, I am constantly reminded how a forgotten piece of essential equipment or the lack of a spare part for an instrument is a scientific disaster waiting to happen.
High-Altitude Research and the Ozone Layer
Q: Can you give us an example of what you are researching?
Dr. Hurst: My current research is focused on improving our understanding of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs). In general, ODSs are released to the atmosphere through human activity, rise up near the stratospheric ozone layer, then break apart, releasing chlorine and bromine atoms that react with ozone.
One unique measurement platform I have used is a converted U-2 spy plane, owned by NASA, that can fly near the ozone layer at 70,000 ft. altitude. These high-altitude measurements tell us precisely how much chlorine and bromine are present and shed light on the complex catalytic reactions that deplete ozone.
Q: Where do you see the future of this field?
Dr. Hurst: This field has rapidly grown and continues to expand as the importance of ozone depletion and forced climate change is recognized globally. Careful monitoring is necessary as we humans dump ever-increasing amounts of gases into the atmosphere. The current trend is for each study to spawn new questions. For example, the realization that temperature changes are not globally uniform led to new investigations into severe weather phenomena like tornadoes and hurricanes.
Advice for Aspiring Scientists
Q: What is the best way to prepare for a career in atmospheric chemistry?
Dr. Hurst: Atmospheric chemistry involves not only chemistry, but physics, biology, geology, and biogeochemistry. To prepare yourself, the choice of undergraduate major is less important than taking classes about the atmosphere or environmental science in general. Choose a school that offers instruction in these subjects taught by an atmospheric chemist. Ultimately, hands-on experience in a research laboratory is the best way to decide if the field is right for you.
Additional Professional Resources (2026 Update)
- NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory: gml.noaa.gov
- Halocarbons & Trace Species Research (HATS): gml.noaa.gov/hats
- Career Outlook (Bureau of Labor Statistics): Atmospheric Scientists & Meteorologists