Dr. James Whiteway

Biography

James Whiteway is a Professor of Earth Space Science at York University, having previously served as a faculty member at the University of Wales at Aberystwyth. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from York University and a B.Sc. in Engineering Physics from Queen’s University. His research interests lie in the study of atmospheres on Earth and Mars, where he has made significant contributions through the development and application of laser remote sensing technology. Notably, he led a team of Canadian scientists to discover snow falling from Martian clouds using a LIDAR instrument during NASA's Phoenix mission that landed on Mars in 2008. This research involved emitting pulses of laser light into the Martian sky to measure dust clouds comprised of water ice. Additionally, Professor Whiteway continues to explore environmental conditions on Mars in his laboratory at York University. His Earth-based research primarily focuses on using laser remote sensing to understand atmospheric processes impacting climate and air quality. He has implemented LIDAR systems for atmospheric measurements including ozone, clouds, and aerosols, utilizing installations on aircraft such as the Polar-5 and Twin Otter for various field campaigns, including studies in northern Alberta related to air pollution from the oil sands industry.

Research Interests