Dr. Ruben Delgado

Associate Professor

Director, Center for Atmospheric Sciences

Interim Assistant Dean for Research, School of Science

Education

Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, 2011

Links: Google Scholar | ORCID | LinkedIn | CAS

Dr. Ruben Delgado is an atmospheric scientist specializing in lidar remote sensing, coastal boundary layer dynamics, air quality, and climate-resilient infrastructure. His work integrates advanced observing systems (lidar, ceilometers, trace-gas instrumentation) with satellite products and AI/ML analytics to understand how coastal meteorology, wildfire smoke, and urban pollution impact health, energy, and national security. He leads Hampton University’s contributions to the Unified Ceilometer Network (UCN) and serves as Campus PI for the NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies II (CESSRST-II), collaborating closely with NASA and other federal partners to build integrated observing networks and workforce pipelines. As Director of the Center for Atmospheric Sciences (CAS), Dr. Delgado advances research capacity, multi-agency partnerships, and high-impact student training in atmospheric and climate science.

Research Focus & Active Projects

Coastal Boundary Layer, Ducting & Mesoscale Flows: Observational and modeling studies of coastal boundary layer structure, low-level jets, and bay-/sea-breeze circulations, focusing on how these features drive air quality, refractivity gradients, and EM/ducting environments in littoral regions.

Unified Ceilometer Network (UCN): Leadership in developing standardized ceilometer-based planetary boundary layer and aerosol products to support air quality management, climate applications, satellite/model evaluation, and early-warning capabilities.

Wildfire Smoke & Coastal Air Quality: Multi-sensor characterization of fresh and transported smoke over the Mid-Atlantic, quantifying impacts on ozone, particulate matter, and visibility, and advancing integrated monitoring approaches for complex coastal environments.

Integrated Monitoring Systems for Extreme Episodes: Design of multi-platform systems that fuse surface, aloft, and remote sensing observations to diagnose ozone-exceedance and other high-impact pollution events, supporting regulatory, public-health, and research needs.

Federal Center & Agency Collaborations (NOAA CESSRST-II, NASA, DoD, US EPA): Development of data-rich testbeds and student-engaged research projects that align Hampton’s capabilities with national priorities in remote sensing, boundary layer science, and operational environmental intelligence.

Teaching & Mentoring

Dr. Delgado teaches courses in atmospheric measurements, remote sensing, boundary layer processes, and air quality. He mentors undergraduate and graduate students in observational field campaigns, algorithm development, and applied environmental intelligence projects. His mentoring places strong emphasis on supporting first-generation and underrepresented students in atmospheric and climate science, with structured pathways into federal agencies, national laboratories, and advanced graduate programs.

Areas of Expertise

• Atmospheric lidar and active remote sensing
• Coastal boundary layer, ducting, low-level jets & bay-/sea-breeze dynamics
• Air quality, aerosols, trace-gas and smoke measurements
• Integrated observing systems & sensor networks
• Satellite–ground synergy (e.g., TEMPO, GOES, AERONET, PANDORA)
• Climate resilience for ports, coastal communities, and critical infrastructure
• STEM workforce development & federal center collaborations (NASA, NOAA, DoD, EPA)

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Scientific Publications

1. “Observation of Fresh Wildfire Smoke over Hampton, VA in Winter”, J. Su, R. Delgado, T. A. Berkoff, J. T. Sullivan, G. P. Gronoff, D. B. Phoenix, Atmospheric Environment, doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2025.121370, 2025.
2. “Recommendations for the NSF Facilities for Atmospheric Research and Education (FARE): Access and Capabilities”, Geerts, B, Baeuerle, B., Diao, M., Delgado, R., Hallar, A.G., Lundquist, J. K., Mak, J., Turner, D. D., Veres, P., Vivekanandan, J., Bulleting of the American Meteorological Society, 106 (6), E1077-E1086, doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-242-0125.1, 2025.
3. “An Integrated Monitoring System (IMS) for Air Quality: Observations of a unique ozone- exceedance event in Maryland”, M. Roots, J. T. Sullivan, R. Delgado, L. Twigg, B. Demoz, Atmospheric Environment, 313, doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.120028, 2023.
4. “VOC and trace gas measurements and ozone chemistry over the Chesapeake Bay during OWLETS-2, 2018”, J. Dreessen, X. Ren, D. Gardner, K. Green, P. Stratton, J. T. Sullivan, R. Delgado, R. R. Dickerson, M. Woodman, T. Berkoff, G. Gronoff, A. Ring, Journal of Air & Waste Management Association, doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2022. 2136782, 2023.
5. “Cluster-based characterization of multi-dimensional tropospheric ozone variability in coastal regions: an analysis of lidar measurements and model results”, C. Bernier, Y. Wang, G. Gronoff, T. Berkoff, K. E. Knowland, J. T. Sullivan, R. Delgado, V. Caicedo, B. Carroll, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 15313–15331, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22- 15313-2022, 2022.
6. “Sensitivity of total column NO2 at a marine site within the Chesapeake Bay during OWLETS-2”, A. Kotsakis, T. F. Hanisco, V. Caicedo, T. Berkhoff, G. Gronoff, C.P. Loughner, X. Ren, W.T. Luke, P. Kelley, P.R. Stratton, R. Delgado, N. Abuhassan, L. Shalaby, F.C. Santos, J. Dreessen, Atmospheric Environment, 277, 119063, doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.119063, 2022.
7. “Influence of the transported Canadian wildfire smoke on the ozone and particle pollution over the Mid-Atlantic United States”, Z.Yang, B. Demoz, R. Delgado, J. Sullivan, Tangborn, P. Lee, Atmospheric Environment, 273, 118940, doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.118940, 2022.
8. “Improvement of wind power prediction from meteorological characterization with machine learning models”, C. Sasser, M. Yu, R. Delgado, Renewable Energy, 183, 491- 501, doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2021.10.034, 2022.
9. “Observations of bay-breeze and ozone events over a marine site during the OWLETS-2 campaign”, V. Caicedo, R. Delgado, W.T. Luke, X. Ren, P. Kelley, P.R. Stratton, R.R. Dickerson, T.A. Berkoff, G. Gronoff, Atmos. Environ., 263, doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118669, 2021.
10. “Comprehensive evaluations of diurnal NO2 measurements during DISCOVER-AQ 2011: effects of resolution-dependent representation of NOx emissions”, J. Li, Y. Wang, R. Zhang, C. Smeltzer, A. Weinheimer, A., J. Herman, K. F. Boersma, E.A. Celarier, R.W. Long, J.J. Szykman, R. Delgado, A. Thompson, T.N. Knepp, L. N., Lamsal, S.J. Janz, M.G. Kowalewski, X. Liu, X., C.R. Nowlan, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 11133– 11160, doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-11133-2021, 2021.
11. “Urban aerosol chemistry at a land-water transition site during summer – Part 2: Aerosol pH and liquid water content”, M.A. Battaglia, N. Balasus, K. Ball, V. Caicedo, R. Delgado, A.G. Carlton, C.J. Hennigan, Atmos. Chem. Phys.,21, 18271-18281, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp- 21-18271-2021.
12. “Urban aerosol chemistry at a land-water transition site during summer – Part 1: Impact of agricultural and industrial ammonia emissions”, N. Balasus, M.A. Battaglia, K. Ball, V. Caicedo, R. Delgado, A.G. Carlton, C.J. Hennigan, Atmos. Chem. Phys. , 21, 13051– 13065, doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-13051-2021, 2021.
13. “Tracking Smoke from a Prescribed Fire and Its Impacts on Local Air Quality Using Temporally Resolved GOES-16 ABI Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD)”, A. K. Huff, S. Kondragunta, H. Zhang, I. Laszlo, M. Zhou, V. Caicedo, R. Delgado, R. Levy, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, DOI: 10.1175/JTECH-D-20-0162.1, 2021.
14. “Lidar Observations of a Mesoscale Moisture Transport Event Impacting Convection and Comparison to Rapid Refresh Model Analysis”, B. J. Carroll, B. B. Demoz, D. D. Turner, R. Delgado, Monthly Weather Review, 149 (2), 463-477, doi.org/10.1175/MWR- D-20-0151.1, 2021.
15. “Wind Resource Assessment and Economic Viability of Conventional and Unconventional Small Wind Turbines: A Case Study of Maryland”, N. Goudarzi, K. Mohammadi, A. St. Pé, R. Delgado, W. Zhu, Energies, 13 (22), 5874, DOI: 10.3390/en13225874, 2020.
16. “An automated common algorithm for planetary boundary layer retrievals using aerosol lidars in support of the U.S. EPA Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations Program”, V. Caicedo, R. Delgado, R. Sakai, T. Knepp, D. Williams, K. Cavender, B. Lefer, J. Szykman, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 37 (10): 1847– 1864, DOI: 10.1175/JTECH-D-20-0050.1, 2020.
17. “An overview of low–level jet winds and corresponding mixed layer depths during PECAN”, B. J. Carroll, B.B. Demoz, R. Delgado, Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, 124, 9141-9160, DOI: 10.1029/2019JD030658, 2019.
18. “The VERTEX field campaign: observations of near-ground effects of wind turbine wakes”, C. L. Archer, S. Wu, A. Vasel-Be-Hagh, J. F. Brodie, R. Delgado, A. St. Pé, S. Oncley, S. Semmer, Journal of Turbulence, DOI: 10.1080/14685248.2019.1572161, 2019.
19. “Classifying rotor-layer wind to reduce offshore available power uncertainty”, A. St. Pé, M. Sperling, J. Brodie, R. Delgado, Wind Energy, Wind Energy, 21, 461-473, doi: 10.1002/we.2159, 2018.
20. “Lidar observations revealing transport of O3 in the presence of a nocturnal low-level jet: Regional implications for “next-day” pollution”, Sullivan, J. T., Rabenhorst, S. D., Dreesen, J., McGee, T. J., Delgado, R., Twigg, L., Sumnicht, G., Atmos. Environ. 158, 160-171, 2017.
21. “Assessment of Mixed-Layer Height Estimation from Single-wavelength Ceilometer Profiles”, Knepp, T. N., Szykman, J. S., Long, R., Duvall, R. M., Krug, J., Beaver, M., Cavender, K., Kronmiller, K., Wheeler, M., Delgado, R., Hoff, R., Berkoff, T., Olson, E., Clark, R., Wolfe, D., van Gilst, D., and Neil, D., Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 3963-3983, 2017.
22. “Vertical profiles of the 3-D wind velocity retrieved from multiple wind lidars performing triple range-height-indicator scans”, M. Debnath, G. V. Iungo, R. Ashton, W.A. Brewer, A. Choukulkar, R. Delgado, J. K. Lundquist, W. J. Shaw, J. M. Wilczak,D. Wolfe, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 431-444, doi:10.5194/amt-10-431-2017, 2017.
23. “Evaluation of single and multiple Doppler lidar techniques to measure complex flow during the XPIA field campaign”, A. Choukulkar, W. A. Brewer, S. P. Sandberg, A. Weickmann, T. A. Bonin, R. M. Hardesty, J. K. Lundquist, R. Delgado, G. V. Iungo, R. Ashton, M. Debnath, L. Bianco,J. M. Wilczak, S. Oncley, D. Wolfe, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 247-264, doi:10.5194/amt-10-247-2017, 2017.
24. “Comparison of aerosol LIDAR retrieval methods for boundary layer height detection using ceilometer backscatter data”, Caicedo, V., Rappenglueck, B., Lefer, B., Morris, G., Toledo, D., Delgado, R., Atmos. Meas. Tech. 10, 1609-1622, doi: 10.5194/amt-10-1609- 2017, 2017.
25. “Sources and Composition of PM2.5 in the Colorado Front Range during the DISCOVER- AQ Study”, Valerino, M. J., Johnson, J. J., Izumi, J., Orozco, D.. Hoff, R. M., Delgado, R., Hennigan, C. J., Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, 121, doi:10.1002/2016JD025830, 2016.
26. “Assessment of virtual towers performed with scanning wind lidars and Ka-band radars during the XPIA experiment”, Debnath, M., Iungo, G. V., Brewer, W. A., Choukulkar, A., Delgado, R., Gunter, S., Lundquist, J. K., Schroeder, J. L., Wilczak, J. M., and Wolfe, D., Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 431-444, 2017.
27. “Assessing the accuracy of microwave radiometers and radio acoustic sounding systems for wind energy applications”, Bianco, L., Friedrich, K., Wilczak, J., Hazen, D., Wolfe, D., Delgado, R., Oncley, S., and Lundquist, J. K., Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 1701-1721, 2017.
28. “Assessing State-of-the-Art Capabilities for Probing the Atmospheric Boundary Layer : the XPIA Field Campaign”, J. Lundquist, J. Wilczak, R. Ashton, L. Bianco, A. Brewer, A. Choukulkar, A. Clifton, M. Debnath, R. Delgado, K. Friedrich, S. Gunter, S., A. Hamidi, G. Valerio, A. Kaushik, B. Kosović, P. Langan, A. Lass, J. Lavin, Y. Lee, K. McCaffrey, R. Newsom, D. Noone, S. Oncley, P. Quelet, S. Sandberg, J. Schroeder, W. Shaw, L. Sparling, C. St. Marin, A. St.Pé, E. Strobach, K. Tay, B. Vanderwende, A. Weickmann, A., D. Wolfe, R. Worsnop, Bulletin of American Meteorological Society, doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-15-00151.1, 2016.
29. “Hygroscopicity Measurements of Aerosol Particles in the San Joaquin Valley, CA, Baltimore, MD, and Golden, CO“, D. Orozco, A. Beyersdorf , L. Ziemba , T. Berkoff, Q. Zhang , R. Delgado , C. Hennigan , K. Thornhill , C. Parworth , H. Kim , D. Young , R. Hoff, Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, 121, doi: 10.1002/2015JD023971, 2016.
30. “Lidar Remote Sensing of Cloud Formation Caused by Low-Level Jets”, J. Su, M. Felton, L. Lei, P. McCormick, R. Delgado, A. St. Pé, Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, 121, doi:10.1002/2015JD024590, 2016.
31. “Observations and Impacts of Transported Canadian Wildfire Smoke on Ozone and Aerosol Air Quality in the Maryland Region on 9-12 June”, 2015, J. Dreessen, J. T. Sullivan, R. Delgado, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 10.1080/10962247.2016.1161674, 2016.
32. “Aerosol particulate matter in the Baltimore metropolitan area: temporal variation over a six-year period”, D. Orozco, R. Delgado, D. Wesloh, R. J. Powers & R. Hoff, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, doi: 10.1080/10962247.2015.1067653, 2015.
33. “Elastic Lidar Measurements Of Summer Nocturnal Low Level Jet Events over Baltimore, Maryland”, R. Delgado, S. Rabenhorst, B. Demoz, R. M. Hoff, J. Atmos. Chem., doi: 10.1007/s10874-013-9277-2, 2013.
34. “Towards a Methodology for Estimating Surface NO2 and SO2 Mixing Ratios from High Spatial and Temporal Resolution Retrievals, and its Applicability to High-resolution Space-based Observations”, T. Knepp, M. Pippin, J. Crawford, J. Szykman, R. Long, L. Cowen, A. Cede, N. Abuhassan, J. Herman, R. Delgado, J. Compton, T. A. Berkoff, J. Fishman, D. Martins, R. Stauffer, A. Thompson, A. Weinheimer, D. Knapp, D. Montzka, D. Lenschow, D. Neil, J. Atmos. Chem., doi: 10.1007/s10874-013-9257-6, 2013.
35. “Determination of planetary boundary layer height on short spatial and temporal scales:
    A demonstration of the Covariance Wavelet Transform in ground based wind profiler and lidar measurements”, J. C. Compton, R. Delgado, T.A. Berkoff, and R. M. Hoff, J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., doi:10.1175/JTECHD-12-00116.1, 2013.
36. “Bay Breeze Influence on Surface Ozone at Edgewood, MD During July 2011”, R. M. Stauffer, A. M. Thompson, D. K. Martins, R. D. Clark, C. P. Loughner, D. Goldberg, R. Delgado, R. R. Dickerson, J. W. Stehr, M. A. Tzortziou, J. Atmos. Chem., doi: 10.1007/s10874-012-9241-6, 2012.
37. “Sporadic metal atom and ion layers and their connection to chemistry and temperature structure in the mesopause region at Arecibo”, R. Delgado, J. T. Fentzke, J. S. Friedman, S. Raizada, C. A. Tepley, Q. Zhou, J. Atmos. Solar. Terr. Phys., 74, 11–23, doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2011.09.004, 2011.
38. “Chemical model for mid-summer lidar observations of mesospheric potassium over the Arecibo Observatory” R. Delgado, B. R. Weiner and J.S. Friedman; Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L02801, 2006.
39. “Potassium Doppler-resonance lidar for the study of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at the Arecibo Observatory” J.S. Friedman, C. A. Tepley, S. Raizada, Q. H. Zhou, J. Hedin, and R. Delgado; J. Atmos. Solar Terr. Phys., 65 (16-18), 1411-1424, 2003.
40. “Mesospheric potassium layer over the Arecibo Observatory, 18.3°N 66.75°W”, J.S. Friedman, S.C. Collins, R. Delgado, P.A. Castleberg; Geophys. Res. Lett., 29, 15-1, 2002.
41. “Nonadiabatic effects in the photodissociation of vibrationally excited HNCO: The branching between singlet and triplet NH”, H.L. Berghout, S.S. Brown, R. Delgado, F.F. Crim; J. Chem. Phys. 109, 2257, 1998.