Chemistry of the Stratosphere and Troposphere

The second research domain is the in situ observation of free radical and reactive intermediates in the stratosphere and troposphere designed to understand photochemical and catalytic reaction networks. The following research objective guides this investigation: Define and predict secular trends in the intensity of ultraviolet exposure that the Earth receives

Within this objective, several questions emerge:

• Why is ozone thinning over mid latitudes of the northern hemisphere? Will ozone loss over the Arctic in late winter and spring continue to worsen?
• Will the emission of nitrogen compounds, sulfur, water, etc., from subsonic aircraft and proposed supersonic aircraft alter the ozone distribution?
• What catalytic processes control the rate of ozone destruction and production as a function of altitude, latitude, and season in the stratosphere and troposphere?
• What is the response of those catalytic loss processes to changes in halogen loading, NO_x loading, aerosol reactive surface area, water vapor concentration, methane, temperature, etc.
• How are organic species oxidized in the troposphere? How is aerosol formation initiated in the troposphere and lower stratosphere?

Further information on this research area is available.

Chemical Reactivity

Strat/Trop Chemistry

Climate Change