Knut Stamnes

Professor

Faculty/Professor
Building: Burchard
Room: 712
Phone: 201.216.8194
Fax: 201.216.5638
Email: kstamnes@stevens.edu
Personal website: http://odin.mat.stevens-tech.edu

Education

  • 1978 Ph.D., Astro-Geophysics, University of Colorado, USA
  • 1972 M.Sc., Ionospheric Physics, University of Oslo, Norway

Research: 

Dr. Stamnes is an internationally known researcher who is recognized for his work on the measurement and impact of atmospheric radiation. He specializes in the study of Atmospheric/Space Research, Radiation transport in planetary media including the coupled atmosphere-snow/ice-ocean system, Atmospheric radiative energy balance and climate, Satellite remote sensing of the environment, Numerical modeling of geophysical phenomena and comparison with measurements, Radiation transport in turbid media such as biological tissue and Aerosol-cloud-radiation-climate interactions and feedbacks.

Dr. Stamnes is also responsible for innovations which accurately interpret information from space-satellite data-on the environment. His work within the Light and Life Lab, has been to develop “virtual modeling” assessment tools to study water quality. This model can be used to develop diagnostic tools to analyze water health and monitor coastal regions. He has also played a pivotal role in developing similar methodologies aimed at determining the health of human skin, and in commercializing methods to discriminate between benign and cancerous lesions with special focus on malignant melanoma.

He receives substantial support for his research, principally from the National Science Foundation. His work has also been funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, National Aeronautics and Space Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. In addition to publishing more than 170 research papers, he is the co-author of Radiative Transfer in the Atmosphere and Ocean (Cambridge University Press, 1999). Dr. Stamnes is a member of the American Geophysical Union, American Meteorological Society, European Geophysical Society, European Optical Society, Norwegian Physical Society and Oceanography Society. He has also received a multitude of recognitions and distinctions for his achievements, including the 1991 Terris and Katarina Moore Prize at the University of Alaska, Member of Science Working Group for Surface Heat and Energy Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA) Program, 1992-96, Site Scientist of DOE's Arctic Atmospheric Radiation Measurements Research Site, 1992-2002, Science Team Member of the Japanese ADEOS Program, 1995-present, Who's Who in the World and Who's Who in the West, Professor Emeritus status at the University of Alaska in 2000, Recipient of an SPIE Excellence Award in 2001, elected Fellow of the Optical Society of America, 2002, and elected Member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Technology in 2009.

Research Projects Interests

  • Atmospheric/Space Research
    • Ionospheric resonse to aurol particle precipitation and solar EUV radiation
    • Ionospheric thermal structure and composition
    • Plasma heating
    • Electron transport and thermalization
    • Optical auroras
    • Neutral atmospheric heating
    • Kinetic theory of planetary atmospheres
  • Radiation transport in planetary media including the coupled atmosphere-snow/ice-ocean system
  • Atmospheric radiative energy balance and climate
  • Tropospheric, stratospheric heating and cooling by solar and terrestrial radiation,
  • Atmospheric photodissociation rates and their impact on composition
  • Satellite remote sensing of the environment
  • Numerical modeling of geophysical phenomena and comparison with measurements
  • Radiation transport in turbid such as biological tissue
  • Aerosol-cloud-radiation-climate interactions and feedbacks.

Publications

  1. Aoki, T., M. Hori, and K. Stamnes (2009) "ADEOS-II/GLI Snow/Ice Products and the scientific implications", J. Remote Sens. Soc. Japan (JRSSJ), ( 77), p. 595-614.

  2. Swanson, D. L., S. D. Laman, M. Biryulina, K. P. Nielsen, G. Ryzhikov, J. J. Stamnes, B. Hamre, L. Zhao, F. S. Castellana, and K. Stamnes (2009) "Optical transfer diagnosis of pigmented lesions: a pilot study", Skin Research and Technology, ( 15), p. 330-337.

  3. K. Stamnes, B. Hamre, J. J. Stamnes, G. Ryzhikov, M. Biryulina (2009) "Modeling of radiation transport in coupled atmosphere-snow-ice-ocean systems", Proc. Int. Conference Methods & Reactor Physics (M&C 2009), Saratoga Springs, New York, May 3-7, Proc. Int. Conference Methods & Reactor Physics (M&C 2009).

  4. Zhang, K., W. Li, H. Eide, and K. Stamnes (2007) "A Bio-optical model suitable for use in forward and inverse coupled atmosphere-ocean radiative transfer models", J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer, Vol. 103,, p. 411-423.

  5. Spurr, R., K. Stamnes, H. Eide, W. Li, K. Zhang, and J. Stamnes (2007) "Simultaneous retrieval of aerosol and ocean color: A classic inverse modeling approach: I. Analytic Jacobians from the linearized CAO-DISORT model", J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiative Transfer, Vol. 104,, p. 428-449.

  6. Jin, Z., T. P. Charlock, K. Rutledge, K. Stamnes, and Y. Wang (2006) "An analytical solution of Radiative Transfer in the Coupled Atmosphere-Ocean System with Rough Surface", Applied Optics, Vol. 45,, p. 7443-7455.

  7. Zhao, L., K.P. Nielsen, A. Juzeniene, P. Juzenas, V. Iani, L.W. Ma, K. Stamnes, J.J. Stamnes, and J. Moan (2006) "Spectroscopic measurements of photoinduced processes in human skin after topical application of the hexylester of 5-aminolevulinic acid", J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol. Oncol., Vol. 25,, p. 307-320.

  8. Nielsen, K. P, L. Zhao, J. J. Stamnes, K. Stamnes, and J. Moan (2006) "The importance of the depth distribution of melanin in skin for DNA protection and photobiological processes", J. Photochem. Photobiol. B: Biology, Vol. 82,, p. 194-198.

  9. Erga, S. R., K. Aursland, O. Frette, B. Hamre, J. K. Lotsberg, J. J. Stamnes, J. Aure, F. Rey, and K. Stamnes (2005) "UV transmission in Norwegian marine waters: controlling factors and possible effects on primary production and vertical distribution of phytoplankton", Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser., Vol. 305, p. 79-100.

  10. Stamnes, K., W. Li, H. Eide and J. J. Stamnes (2005) "Challenges in atmospheric correction of satellite imagery", Opt. Eng., Vol. 44,, p. 041003-1-041003-9.

  11. Jiang, S., K. Stamnes, W. Li and B. Hamre (2005) "Enhanced Solar Irradiance Across the Atmosphere-Sea Ice Interface: A Quantitative Numerical Study", Applied Optics, Vol. 44,, p. 2613-2625.

  12. Hamre, B., J.-G. Winther, S. Gerland, J. J. Stamnes, and K. Stamnes (2004) "Modeled and measured optical transmittance of snow covered first-year sea ice in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard", J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 109,, p. d0i:10.1029/2003JC001926.

  13. Stamnes, K., W. Li, B. Yan, H. Eide, A. Barnard, W. S. Pegau and J. J. Stamnes (2003) "Accurate and self-consistent ocean color algorithm: simultaneous retrieval of aerosol optical properties and chlorophyll concentrations", Applied Optics, Vol. 42,, p. 939-951.

  14. Stamnes, K (2003) "Encyclopedia of Atmospheric Sciences", Vol. 6,, p. 2467-2473.

  15. Stamnes, K (2003) "Exploring the atmosphere by remote sensing", R. Guzzi, Springer Verlag.

  16. Stamnes, K., and G. E. Thomas (2002) "Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, Third Edition", Vol. 13,, p. 511-522.

  17. Stamnes, K (2002) "Ultraviolet and Visible Radiation in the Atmosphere-Ocean System: A Tutorial Review of Modeling Capabilities", Opt. Eng., Vol. 41,, p. 3008-3018.

  18. Lubin, D., W. Li, P. Dustan, C. H. Mazel, and K. Stamnes (2001) "Remote sensing of coral reefs from space: Spectral signatures and band optimization", Remote Sensing of the Environment, Vol. 75,, p. 127-137.

  19. Hu, Y.-X., and K. Stamnes (2000) "Climate sensitivity to cloud optical properties", Tellus, Vol. 52B,, p. 81-93.

  20. Thomas, G. E., and K. Stamnes (1999) "Radiative Transfer in the Atmosphere and Ocean", Cambridge University Press.

  21. Stamnes, K., R. G. Ellingson, J. A. Curry, J. E. Walsh, and B. D. Zak (1999) "Review of science issues and deployment strategies for the North Slope of Alaska/Adjacent Arctic Ocean (NSA/AAO) ARM site", J. Climate, Vol. 12,, p. 46-63.

  22. Schulz, F. M., K. Stamnes, and J. J. Stamnes (1998) "Scattering of electromagnetic waves by spheroidal particles: A novel approach exploiting the T-matrix computed in spheroidal coordinates", Applied Optics, Vol. 37,, p. 7875-7896.

  23. Meier, R. R., G. P. Anderson, C. A. Cantrell, L. A. Hall, J. Lean, K. Minschwaner, R. E. Shetter, E. P. Shettle, and K. Stamnes (1997) "Actinic radiation in the terrestrial atmosphere", J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Physics, Vol. 59,, p. 2111-2157.

  24. Smith, W. L., and K. Stamnes (Editors) (1997) "IRS’96: Current Problems in Atmospheric Radiation", A. Deepak Publishing.

  25. Zhang, T., K. Stamnes, and S. A. Bowling (1996) "Impact of clouds on surface radiative fluxes and snowmelt in the Arctic and Subarctic", J. Climate, Vol. 9,, p. 2110-2123.

  26. Kylling, A., K. Stamnes, and S. C. Tsay (1995) "A reliable and efficient two-stream algorithm for spherical radiative transfer: Documentation of accuracy in realistic layered media", J. Atmos. Chem., Vol. 21,, p. 115-150.

  27. Jin, Z., and K. Stamnes (1994) "Radiative transfer in nonuniformly refracting media such as the atmosphere/ocean system", Applied Optics, Vol. 33,, p. 431-442.

  28. Stamnes, K (1993) "The stratosphere as a modulator of ultraviolet radiation into the biosphere", Surveys in Geophys, Vol. 14,, p. 167-186.

  29. Hu, Y.-X., and K. Stamnes (1993) "An accurate parameterization of the radiative properties of water clouds suitable for use in climate models", J. Climate, Vol. 6,, p. 728-742.

  30. Stamnes, K. (Editor) (1993) "Atmospheric Radiation", Proc. SPIE.

  31. Kylling, A., and K. Stamnes (1992) "Efficient yet accurate solution of the linear transport equation in the presence of internal sources: The exponential-linear-in-depth approximation", J. Comp. Phys., Vol. 102,, p. 265-276.

  32. Stamnes, K., Ø. Lie-Svendsen and M.H. Rees (1991) "The linear Boltzmann equation in slab geometry: Development and verification of a reliable and efficient solution", Planet. Space Sci., Vol. 39,, p. 1453-1463.

  33. Stamnes, K., J. Slusser, M. Bowen, C. Booth, and T. Lucas (1990) "Biologically effective ultraviolet radiation, total ozone abundance and cloud optical depth at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, September 15, 1988 through April 15, 1989", Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 17,, p. 2181-2184.

  34. Tsay, S.-C., K. Stamnes and K. Jayaweera (1989) "Radiative energy budget in the cloudy and hazy Arctic", J. Atmos. Sci., Vol. 46,, p. 1002-1018.

  35. Stamnes, K., S. C. Tsay, W. J. Wiscombe, and K. Jayaweera (1988) "Numerically stable algorithm for discrete-ordinate-method radiative transfer in multiple scattering and emitting media", Applied Optics, Vol. 27,, p. 2502-2509.

  36. Stamnes, K (1986) "The theory of multiple scattering of radiation in plane parallel atmospheres", Rev. Geophys., Vol. 24,, p. 299-310.

  37. Stamnes, K. and R. A. Swanson (1981) "A new look at the discrete ordinate method for radiative transfer calculations in anisotropically scattering atmospheres", J. Atmos. Sci., Vol. 38,, p. 387-389.

  38. Stamnes, K (1980) "Analytic approach to auroral electron transport and energy degradation", Planet. Space Sci., Vol. 28,, p. 427-441.

Awards and Honors

  • Recipient of the 1991 Terris and Katarina Moore Prize at the University of Alaska
  • Member of Science Working Group for Surface Heat and Energy Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA) Program, 1992-96
  • Site Scientist of DOE's Arctic ARM (Atmospheric Radiation Measurements) Research Site, 1992-2002
  • Science Team Member of the Japanese ADEOS Program, 1995-present
  • Who's Who in the World and Who's Who in the West
  • Awarded Professor Emeritus status at the University of Alaska in 2000
  • Recipient of an SPIE Excellence Award in 2001
  • Elected Fellow of the Optical Society of America, 2002

Professional Organizations and Societies

  • American Geophysical Union
  • American Meteorological Society
  • European Geophysical Society
  • European Optical Society
  • Norwegian Physical Society
  • Oceanography Society