Papers
41
Total Citations
3,539
H-Index
24
About
Omar Torres is a leading atmospheric scientist whose research has fundamentally advanced our understanding of aerosol properties and their measurement from space. Specializing in satellite-based remote sensing of aerosols, Torres has made transformative contributions to retrieving aerosol optical depth, single-scattering albedo, and absorbing aerosol properties using near-ultraviolet observations from instruments including TOMS and the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). His landmark 2002 study establishing a long-term aerosol optical depth record from TOMS satellite observations — now cited nearly 600 times — created an invaluable multi-decadal dataset enabling climate scientists to track atmospheric particulates across oceans and continents. Torres has been instrumental in validating satellite aerosol retrievals against AERONET ground-based networks, building critical bridges between space-based and surface observations. His algorithms for retrieving desert dust refractive indices and biomass-burning aerosol properties have clarified how different particle types absorb and scatter radiation, with direct implications for climate modeling and emissions estimation. With over 2,400 citations across his most influential papers alone, Torres's work underpins NASA's aerosol data products used globally by climate researchers. His contributions spanning desert dust, biomass burning, and multi-sensor data merging make him an indispensable figure in modern atmospheric remote sensing.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 8Assessment of OMI near‐UV aerosol optical depth over land162 citations · 2014
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