Kerstin Schepanski
University of Leeds, Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research
Papers
5
Total Citations
243
H-Index
5
About
Kerstin Schepanski is a leading atmospheric scientist whose research focuses on the emission, transport, and climatic impacts of mineral dust, particularly from the Sahara Desert—the world’s largest dust source. Her work bridges satellite remote sensing, field observations, and climate modeling to unravel the complex interactions between dust and the Earth system. She made a seminal contribution with the development of the Bitemporal Mineral Dust Index (BMDI) using Meteosat Second Generation infrared channels, a novel technique that dramatically improved the detection of dust over land. Schepanski was instrumental in the Fennec climate programme, where airborne observations over the remote Sahara (2011–2012) advanced understanding of boundary layer processes and dust mobilization. Her research has directly enhanced dust representation in major climate models, including ECHAM6-HAM2 and COSMO-MUSCAT, by integrating satellite-derived dust source activation data to replace static parameterizations. With over 240 citations across her most-cited works, Schepanski’s impact is evident in her contributions to field campaigns like SAMUM and GERBILS, which provided critical validation for dust forecasts and emission schemes. Her work remains essential for predicting dust’s role in radiation budgets, cloud formation, and global climate dynamics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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