Rafael M. Fonseca
Papers
3
Total Citations
145
H-Index
3
About
Rafael M. Fonseca is a leading atmospheric scientist whose research focuses on the characterization and modeling of biomass burning aerosols in South America, with a particular emphasis on the Amazon and Cerrado regions. His work bridges ground-based observations and satellite remote sensing to understand how smoke plumes from seasonal fires affect regional climate and air quality. In his highly cited 2009 study (71 citations), Fonseca demonstrated the representativeness of AERONET ground stations by correlating their aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements with MODIS satellite data, establishing a critical framework for validating space-based observations during South America’s intense biomass burning season. His subsequent 2013 modeling study (68 citations) used the CCATT-BRAMS model to simulate the intra-seasonal variability of smoke AOD and quantify the perturbation of surface shortwave radiation, revealing how smoke plumes can significantly reduce solar irradiance reaching the ground. This work has profound implications for understanding regional climate feedbacks, agricultural productivity, and public health. Fonseca’s contributions have been instrumental in advancing our ability to monitor and predict the atmospheric impacts of fire activity, making him a key figure in South American aerosol research.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3