Azadeh Tabazadeh

Azadeh Tabazadeh is an Iranian geophysicist and author known for her work in atmospheric science, work which has improved our understanding of the reactions that affect ozone depletion and highlighted the impact human activity has on the atmosphere.

Early life and education Tabazadeh grew up in Tehran, Iran, raised by her father Modjtaba, and her mother, Azar. Her father was a civil engineer. In 1973, when she was eight years old, she received a chemistry set as a present for Nowruz, from her uncle, a Geology student. Part of her work aimed to understand the contributions of volcanic eruptions to chlorine levels in the stratosphere. She found that this chlorine precipitated before it reached the stratosphere, implying that human activity was still the major contributor of chlorine in the upper atmosphere. Her work was vital in ending 20 years of debate around this topic and supported the value of measures, such as the Montreal Protocol, in reducing chlorine emissions.

Professional career After she finished her PhD, Tabazadeh moved to work at NASA Ames Research Centre. She continued to work on polar stratospheric clouds and their role in stratospheric chemistry. Her work showed that denitrification in the stratosphere was an essential factor in ozone loss. She also made additional contributions to understanding ice formation and removal of nitric acid in the upper troposphere. She left Stanford in 2011 to write her memoirs. James B. Macelwane Medal, American Geophysical Union (2001) NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (2001) Henry G. Houghton Award, American Meteorological Society (2003)