About

Nicholas Meskhidze is a Professor of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at North Carolina State University. His research focuses on advancing the understanding of atmospheric processes and their interactions with climate and marine ecosystems. His current interests include tracking invisible threats such as sub-10 nm particles and ultrafine particles that penetrate deep into lungs and cross the blood-brain barrier, mapping urban air pollution at the nanoscale to identify sources near roadways, airports, and industrial sites, and measuring aerosol vertical turbulent fluxes using advanced techniques like eddy covariance and remote sensing. He investigates how atmospheric aerosols, particularly mineral dust mixed with pollution, deliver bioavailable iron to ocean regions, triggering phytoplankton blooms that influence Earth's climate through the biological carbon pump. Additionally, he develops satellite remote sensing algorithms to monitor air quality and health, creating tools to assess exposure in regions lacking ground-based monitoring, and studies biogeochemical cycles and marine emissions to understand particle fluxes and their radiative impacts. His work also includes characterizing atmospheric nucleation events in urban and marine environments, combining field measurements with aerosol microphysics models to understand particle formation and growth processes. Through these efforts, Dr. Meskhidze aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex feedback mechanisms between the atmosphere, ocean, and climate systems, while informing more accurate climate models.

Research topics

• Environmental science
• Meteorology
• Atmospheric sciences
• Geology
• Chemistry
• Materials science
• Geography
• Oceanography
• Physics
• Environmental chemistry
• Ecology
• Biology
• Inorganic chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Selected publications

• Mobile Measurements next to Biosolid Processing Plants

  Mendeley Data · 2026-01-05

  datasetOpen access

  Raw data from work: Nucleation Mode Particle Emissions from Biosolid Processing Plants

  PublisherDOI

• Mobile Measurements next to Biosolid Processing Plants

  Mendeley Data · 2026-01-05

  datasetOpen access

  Raw data from work: Nucleation Mode Particle Emissions from Biosolid Processing Plants

  PublisherDOI

• Nucleation-Mode-Particle Emissions from Biosolid Processing Plants

  Environmental Science & Technology · 2026-01-05 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  . Transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy shows that particles were composed primarily of carbon, with some sulfur, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The observed agglomerated morphology suggests that the nucleation mode particles were either solid or highly viscous. The elevated number concentrations and morphology are consistent with particle formation via gas-phase nucleation, likely triggered by fugitive volatile organic compound emissions from the facility. Further research is needed to fully assess their impact on local air quality and public health.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Mobile Measurements next to Biosolid Processing Plants

  Mendeley Data · 2025-12-25

  datasetOpen access

  Raw data from work: Nucleation Mode Particle Emissions from Biosolid Processing Plants

  PublisherDOI

• Size-resolved Eddy-Covariance Particle Flux Measurement during the TRACER Campaign (Final Report)

  2025-05-19

  reportOpen accessSenior author

  The main goal of the TRacking Aerosol Convection interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER) campaign was to study aerosol–cloud interactions during deep convection over the Houston area. This project deployed a suite of instrumentation with the aim to (1) quantify turbulent vertical particle fluxes during at DOE-ARM sites, including TRACER, (2) assess hygroscopic growth factors and hygroscopicity parameters of the material driving modal aerosol growth during new particle formation and growth events, (3) derive turbulent aerosol mass fluxes using co-located Doppler LIDAR measurements, and (4) create quality-controlled PI data products to support future research utilizing data collected during the TRACER campaign. This report summarized the main findings from the deployments at two DOE-ARM sites. Briefly, we found that new particle formation may occur aloft, in a residual layer, near the top of the boundary layer. Small grown particles appear later due to downward mixing with daytime turbulence. The species that are responsible for aerosol modal growth had hygroscopicity parameters varying between 0.05 and 0.34. These values systematically depended on the wind sector, suggesting that the chemical composition of the precursors differed. This work demonstrated that lidar retrievals of the elastic backscatter and Doppler velocity can be used to obtain surface number emissions of particles with a diameter greater than 0.53 µm. During TRACER, emission particle number fluxes peaked near ∼ 100 cm−2 s−1. Multiple quality-controlled PI data products that will support future TRACER related science were generated and made publically available.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• From Dust to Phytoplankton: Research Priorities for Atmospheric-Ocean Iron Coupling

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2025-07-18

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Type-based assessment of aerosol direct radiative effects: A proof-of-concept using GEOS-Chem and CATCH

  Atmospheric Research · 2025-03-04 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  The radiative perturbation of the Earth's energy balance caused by all aerosols, the direct radiative effect (DRE), and anthropogenic aerosols, the direct radiative forcing (DRF), remain major sources of uncertainty in climate projections. Here we propose a method for determining DRE and DRF that makes use of the High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL)-retrieved aerosol loading and derived aerosol types (i.e. dust, marine, urban, smoke, etc.) in combination with aerosol-type specific optical properties. As the global spatiotemporal distributions of HSRL-derived aerosol types are not currently available, the methodology is tested here using a global 3-D model of atmospheric chemistry (GEOS-Chem) along with Creating Aerosols from CHemistry (CATCH) algorithm-generated aerosol types analogous to ones derived by HSRL. In this method, the Rapid Radiative Transfer Model for General Circulation Models (RRTMG) is used to perform radiative transfer calculations with the single scattering albedo (SSA) and asymmetry parameter of atmospheric particles assigned based on the aerosol type in each grid box. Average GEOS-Chem/CATCH-derived all-sky DRE and DRF across the North American domain are estimated to be −1.98 W/m 2 and − 0.77 W/m 2 , respectively between mid-January and early February 2013 and − 4.20 W/m 2 and − 1.41 W/m 2 respectively between mid-July and early August 2014. Sensitivity studies revealed that the scheme may produce up to about ±0.42 W/m 2 and ± 0.21 W/m 2 uncertainty in DRE and DRF, respectively, related to variability in aerosol type-specific optical properties. This study presents a new way of determining DRE and DRF estimates once global retrievals of aerosol intensive parameters by HSRL become available. • Aerosol type-specific optical properties were used for the characterization of the direct radiative effect (DRE) and the forcing (DRF). • Derived North American winter (summer) all-sky DRE and DRF across are estimated to be −4.20 (−1.98) W/m 2 and − 1.41 (−0.77) W/m 2 . • Using aerosol type-specific optical properties introduced ±0.42 W/m 2 and ± 0.21 W/m 2 uncertainty in DRE and DRF calculations.

  PublisherDOI

• Mapping the spatial distribution of sub-10 nm particles in Raleigh, NC

  Atmospheric Pollution Research · 2025-09-17

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Sub-10 nm particles represent a critical yet understudied component of urban air pollution, with significant implications for air quality and public health. This study introduces a mobile platform designed to quantify particle number concentrations in the 2.5–10 nm size range and total particle concentrations from a standard vehicle. The platform integrated multiple condensation particle counters with video monitoring to capture both concentration data and visual source identification during systematic sampling campaigns. The system was deployed for a series of drives in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Data show two dominant sources of 2.5–10 nm particles in the urban environment: diesel-powered vehicles and aircraft operations at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). Highway measurements showed particle concentrations averaging 10,000–15,000 cm −3 (approximately tenfold above background levels), with intermittent concentration spikes reaching 70,000 cm −3 where 2.5–10 nm particles constituted over 70 % of the total particle count. These peaks were predominantly associated with "super-emitter" diesel trucks, identified through synchronized video analysis. Concentration gradients demonstrated rapid decay to background levels within approximately 120 m from roadways, highlighting the importance of high-resolution spatial sampling. At RDU Airport, our integrated approach combining field measurements with dispersion modeling indicated that aircraft taxiing and takeoff operations have the potential to function as important contributing sources of 2.5–10 nm particles to the area surrounding the airport, with meteorological conditions influencing their dispersal patterns beyond the immediate airport perimeter. This research provides valuable information for developing targeted strategies to mitigate air pollution in urban environments. • Comprehensive spatial mapping of sub-10 nm particles in an urban environment using mobile measurement platform. • Diesel vehicles and aircraft operations identified as important contributing sources of 2.5–10 nm particles in urban areas. • Highway concentrations averaged 10,000–15,000 cm −3 , with episodic spikes reaching 70,000 cm −3 where sub-10 nm particles comprised >70 % of total count. • Particle concentrations decay to background levels within ∼120 m from roadways critical for exposure assessment. • Mobile measurements with AERMOD dispersion modeling confirm airport runways as significant ultrafine particle sources. This study measures and analyzes the distribution and concentrations of sub-10 nm particles in an urban environment.

  PublisherDOI

• Assessment of high spectral resolution lidar-derived PM_2.5 concentration from SEAC⁴RS, ACEPOL, and three DISCOVER-AQ campaigns

  Environmental Science Atmospheres · 2025-01-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Here we evaluate the HSRL-CH method for remotely monitoring PM 2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm) which is of vital importance as elevated levels of PM 2.5 is associated with many adverse health outcomes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• From Dust to Phytoplankton: Research Priorities for Atmospheric-Ocean Iron Coupling

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2025-07-18

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• EAGER: Exploring the Ground-Level and Elevated Sources of New Particle Formation Using Aerosol Size- and Hygroscopicity-Resolved Turbulent Flux Measurement Technique

  NSF · $100k · 2019–2021

• Atmospheric Transport and Photo-chemical Transformation of Iron: Model Development, Application, and Verification with Surface and Satellite Data

  NSF · $287k · 2008–2012

• New Constraints on Size-resolved Submicron Sea-salt Particle Production from Ocean Breaking Waves

  NSF · $403k · 2013–2018

Frequent coauthors

• Markus D. Petters

  University of California, Riverside

  55 shared

• B. Gantt

  Environmental Protection Agency

  38 shared

• Athanasios Nenes

  École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

  30 shared

• Matthew S. Johnson

  Ames Research Center

  28 shared

• Sabin Kasparoǧlu

  22 shared

• Taylor M. Royalty

  University of Tennessee at Knoxville

  21 shared

• K. W. Dawson

  Cascades (Canada)

  20 shared

• Alyssa Zimmerman

  18 shared

Labs

• ACILPI

Education

• Ph.D., Atmospheric Science

  University of Georgia

  2000

• M.S., Atmospheric Science

  University of Georgia

  1996

• B.S., Physics

  Tbilisi State University

  1993