Christoph Wehrli

About

Christoph Wehrli is a leading figure in aerosol remote sensing, whose work has fundamentally advanced our ability to monitor atmospheric particles over decades. His primary research focuses on developing and validating ground-based radiometric networks to retrieve aerosol optical depth (AOD) and microphysical properties. Wehrli’s major contributions include pioneering the recovery of a 37-year AOD series (1976–2012) from the Mark-I potassium resonance scattering spectrometer at Izaña, a remarkable feat that transformed an astronomical instrument into a climate tool. He also played a key role in establishing the Global Atmosphere Watch–Precision Filter Radiometer (GAW-PFR) network, providing long-term, high-quality AOD climatologies at remote sites like Cape Point, South Africa. His work has been instrumental in cross-validating satellite retrievals and AERONET data, with his 2014 study on aerosol microphysical retrievals from PFR measurements accumulating 27 citations. By harmonizing historical and modern datasets, Wehrli has enabled critical assessments of aerosol trends and radiative forcing, cementing his legacy as a cornerstone of long-term atmospheric monitoring.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Aerosol microphysical retrievals from precision filter radiometer direct solar radiation measurements and comparison with AERONET

   27 citations · 2014
2. 2
   Recovering long-term aerosol optical depth series (1976–2012) from an astronomical potassium-based resonance scattering spectrometer

   20 citations · 2014
3. 3
   The GAW‐PFR aerosol optical depth network: The 2008–2013 time series at Cape Point Station, South Africa

   17 citations · 2015
4. 4
   Recovering Long-term Aerosol Optical Depth Series (1976–2012) from an Astronomical Potassium-based Resonance Scattering Spectrometer

   4 citations · 2014

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links