Titan afloat on an underground ocean Mar 22, 2008
Many planetary scientists suspect Titan's surface and atmospheric chemistry may have similarities to the Earth's before the birth of life. Titan is dotted with lakes of hydrocarbons, mostly methane and ethane - key constituents of natural gas. (Sydney Morning Herald)
How pollution can help to clean the air Mar 21, 2008
The work should help to improve models of atmospheric chemistry, and suggest better ways to control air pollution in big cities. The hydroxyl radical is a very reactive and short-lived molecule that contains one hydrogen atom and one oxygen atom. (Nature News Service)
NASA satellite measures pollution from east Asia to North America Mar 18, 2008
In fact, in a model study published last November in the Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Mian Chin, also a co-author of this study and an atmospheric scientist at NASA Goddard, suggests that European pollution also makes a significant contribution to the pollution inflow to North America. Satellite instruments give us the ability to capture more accurate measurements, on a nearly daily basis across a broader geographic region and across a longer time frame so that the overall... (EurekAlert!)
Atmospheric Chemistry Post Doctoral Researcher Feb 22, 2008
Atmospheric Chemistry Post Doctoral Researcher ... To develop equipment for atmospheric trace gas analysis, to deploy this on the CARIBIC aircraft, and to apply the results to atmospheric chemistry research. (Nature News Service)
OBITUARY: Bert Bolin, pioneering climatologist who won Nobel Jan 5, 2008
One examines atmospheric chemistry and greenhouse gas emissions. The second deals with the impacts of various degrees of climate change. (International Herald Tribune)
Scientists: Era of Overwhelmed Planet Needs New Name Jan 3, 2008
Crutzen, former chief of atmospheric chemistry at the Max-Planck-Institute in Germany and now a part-time professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, is out with a new paper that leads off with a provocative question: "Are Humans Now Overwhelming the Great Forces of Nature?". The paper, published by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in the current issue of the journal Ambio, begins with this warning. (ABC News)
Tactics labeled too weak in dirty fight Dec 16, 2007
As dangerous and complex as the area's atmospheric chemistry is, political mud-wrestling is center stage at the moment. A lack of trust. (Modesto Bee, CA)
Fed-up scientists call for strong climate treaty Dec 6, 2007
It includes many co-authors of the intergovernmental climate change panel reports, directors of major American and European climate science research institutions and a Nobel winner for atmospheric chemistry. "A lot of us scientists think the problem needs a lot more serious attention than it's getting and the remedies have to be a lot more radical," said Richard Seager, a scientist at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
* The scientific potential of painting Dec 1, 2007
In the study, published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Zerefos and his researchers wrote that the reddening of the paintings "can be tentatively attributed to the volcanic events and not to abnormalities in the color degradation due to age or other random factor.". The writers point out that their results are supported by independent historical accounts and other evidence such as measurements of dust particles trapped in ice cores. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
* Probe proves theory that lightning exists on Venus Nov 30, 2007
The finding is significant because lightning affects atmospheric chemistry, so scientists will have to take it into account as they learn about Venus, he said. The lightning is cloud-to-cloud, said University of California in Los Angeles geophysics professor C.T. Russell, lead author of a paper on the Venusian fireworks being published in today's issue of the journal Nature. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Art Used to Study Climate Change? Nov 30, 2007
In the study, published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Zerefos and his researchers wrote that artists "appear to have simulated the colors of nature with a remarkable precise coloration.". That precision could make the paintings useful in tracking environmental pollution over the past few centuries, it said. (Time.com)
Scientists useart to track climate change Nov 29, 2007
In the study, published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Zerefos and his researchers wrote that artists appear to have simulated the colors of nature with a remarkable precise coloration. . (MSNBC -- Environment)
Saturn's Moon Has Life's 'Building Blocks' Nov 29, 2007
Professor Andrew Coates, researcher at UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory and lead author of a new paper*, says: "Cassini's electron spectrometer has enabled us to detect negative ions which have 10,000 times the mass of hydrogen. Additional rings of carbon can build up on these ions, forming molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may act as a basis for the earliest forms of life. "Their existence poses questions about the processes involved in atmospheric chemistry and... (Science Daily)
Venus has Earth-like lightning Nov 29, 2007
The finding is significant because lightning affects atmospheric chemistry, so scientists will have to take it into account as they try to understand the atmosphere and climate of Venus. Bursts of electrical energy from lightning are something that scientists have long theorized could provide the spark of life in primordial ooze. (Xinhuanet, China)
Organic 'building blocks' discovered in Titan's atmosphere Nov 29, 2007
Their existence poses questions about the processes involved in atmospheric chemistry and aerosol formation and we now think it most likely that these negative ions form in the upper atmosphere before moving closer to the surface, where they probably form the mist which shrouds the planet and which has hidden its secrets from us in the past. It was this mist which stopped the Voyager mission from examining Titan more closely in 1980 and was one of the reasons that Cassini was launched. (EurekAlert!)
Local sources major cause of US near-ground aerosol pollution Nov 17, 2007
The report was in the Nov. 1 edition of the European Geosciences Union's Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. They also found that 30-40 percent of fine particulates in the western U.S. come from local pollution sources. (EurekAlert!)
Climate report to warn of potentially 'irreversible' impacts Nov 16, 2007
The panel, comprising specialists in atmospheric chemistry, ocean biology, glaciation, economics and many other disciplines, issues regular reviews, called assessment reports, on global warming. It has been widely praised for the impartiality and objectivity of its reports, although this year some experts have said its review process may be too conservative and slow-moving to assess what now transpires to be a fast-moving problem. (Yahoo News -- Top Stories)
Using Satellites to Pinpoint and Predict Pollution Nov 13, 2007
By comparing the satellite observations with measurements from the ground, along with a global chemical transport model, they learned that the atmospheric models failed to accurately reflect a dramatic 40 percent drop in nitrogen dioxide levels in Beijing's air during the traffic restriction, says Yuxuan Wang, a Harvard lecturer and research assistant specializing in atmospheric chemistry. PAGE 1. (Scientific American)
Environment takes hit from world's coal dependency Nov 5, 2007
China alone contributes 3 to 5 parts per billion, estimates Daniel J. 00000E18 Jacob, professor of atmospheric chemistry and environmental engineering at Harvard University. Mercury, a byproduct of some coal-mining, is another major concern. (The Advocate)
* Al Gore is the big-name co-recipient of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, but will the world pay attention to who received the other half? Oct 21, 2007
Mastering the subject requires expertise in many scientific fields, including climatology, oceanography, atmospheric chemistry, ecology, engineering, politics and economics. No lone scientist or national team can do this. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
German chemist gets Nobel on his birthday Oct 13, 2007
A German researcher who laid the foundation for studying surface reactions important in atmospheric chemistry, the production of fertilizers and the operation of catalytic converters in automobiles was awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize in chemistry Wednesday ... They also led to a better understanding of many aspects of atmospheric chemistry. (Indianapolis Star)
What happens when two nations battle with nukes? Oct 8, 2007
The team's results are also published online in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussusions. Growing threat. (Yahoo News -- Nuclear Weapons)
Art & science: Turner's message from the skies Oct 7, 2007
Sure enough, the scientists found that the artists had faithfully reproduced what they saw or, as their paper, just published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics puts it, they "appear to have simulated the colours of nature with a remarkably precise coloration". The sunsets they painted were reddest in the three years after major eruptions, and confirmed what was already known from other records about their effects. (Independent)
Forging The Future of Space Science - The Next 50 Years Oct 4, 2007
Dr. James Anderson, Philip S. Weld Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry, Harvard University. Dr. Roy Torbert, Director, Space Science Center, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, UNH. (NASA Watch)
Farm Subsidies Smack Mother Nature Oct 1, 2007
According to a study in the August 1 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, scientists discovered that the use of several agricultural crops for biofuel production and climate protection can readily lead to an enhanced greenhouse warming by N2O emissions. Nobel Prize-winning chemist Paul Crutzen and his three American, Austrian, and Scottish co-authors explain that nitrogen-rich fertilizers used in ethanol-driven corn production yield nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas. (Human Events Online)
Many Biofuels Have More Climate Impact Than Oil Sep 28, 2007
The results, published in "Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions," were based on the finding that fertiliser use on farms was responsible for three to five times more such greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought. http://www. (Planet Ark, United States)
Breath Analysis Offers Potential For Noninvasive Blood Sugar Monitoring In Diabetes Sep 27, 2007
The breath samples were sent to the laboratory of UC Irvine chemists F. Sherwood Rowland and Donald Blake, who examined the exhaled breath using methods developed for their atmospheric chemistry work. In that work, they measure the levels of trace gases in excess of the parts-per-billion range that contribute to local and regional air pollution. (Science Daily)
Scientists In First Global Study Of 'Poison' Gas In The Atmosphere Sep 25, 2007
An international team used the Canadian Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment satellite to carry out the first global study of the atmospheric distribution of poisonous phosgene gas ... Between February 2004 and May 2006, they used the Canadian Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) satellite to measure the incidence of the gas. (Science Daily)
Rapeseed biofuel produces more Sep 23, 2007
The research is published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, where it has been placed for open review. The research team was formed of scientists from Britain, the US and Germany, and included Professor Paul Crutzen, who won a Nobel Prize for his work on ozone. (Times Online)
Ancient Shells Harden Link Between Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases Sep 20, 2007
"It supports the notion," Eiler says, "that you can use simple radiative balance arguments that is, the greenhouse effect to relate atmospheric chemistry to global temperature.". Free Newsletters. (Scientific American)
ENVIRONMENT: Ozone Treaty Could Slow Climate Change Sep 18, 2007
Rowland and Molina, who spoke to delegates on Sunday, said they had to develop a new kind of atmospheric chemistry, but the mounting evidence that ozone levels had fallen more than 30 percent over Antarctica alarmed some nations, particularly Argentina. "In the southern part of Argentina, children couldn't play outside because of the ozone hole in the spring," said Romina Picolotti, Argentina's environment minister. (IPS)
Google's Co-Founders Park Private Jet At NASA Airfield Sep 16, 2007
"NASA Ames Earth Science Division has a long history of using aircraft measurements to study atmospheric chemistry, global climate change, environmental effects of aviation and ozone depletion," NASA said. "Aircraft measurements have also been used for various other applications such as wildfires, precision agriculture and invasive species research.". (InformationWeek)
Google founders trade research chores for Moffett landing rights Sep 13, 2007
NASA emphasized that it has used aircraft in the past to study atmospheric chemistry, global climate change and ozone depletion in addition to wildfires and agriculture. The agreement with Google's founders is non-exclusive, meaning that the door is open to others with private aircraft who want to use Moffett Field and are willing to contribute to NASA's mission. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Greece Suffers More Fires In 2007 Than In Last Decade, Satellites Reveal Sep 4, 2007
The data are used for research in atmospheric chemistry, land use change, global change ecology, fire prevention and management and meteorology. Quantifying fires is important for the ongoing study of climate because they have a significant impact on global atmospheric pollution, with biomass burning contributing to the global budgets of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide. (Science Daily)
September Geology and GSA Today media highlights Aug 29, 2007
Determining the concentration of carbon dioxide in the ancient atmosphere remains a critical hurdle to understanding Earth surface temperatures, compositional changes in atmospheric chemistry, and the evolution of Earths earliest biosphere. Kah and Riding report the finding of petrographic fabrics in 1. (EurekAlert!)
Climate 'would reel from A-bombs' Aug 23, 2007
The latest investigation is written up in two papers in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions. It draws on expertise from UCLA, Rutgers University, New Jersey, and the University of Colorado at Boulder. (Yahoo News -- Nuclear Weapons)
Air Quality Study: Mercury and Formaldehyde Found In Houston, Texas Air Aug 22, 2007
Most of the data was collected from the UH Moody Tower Atmospheric Chemistry Facility, an 18-story building that is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and from data collected from various aircrafts and a National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration ship in the Houston Ship Channel. The Moody Tower facility measured three different types of mercury: gaseous elemental mercury, reactive gaseous mercury and fine particulate mercury. (Science Daily)
Bones Beat Trees As Markers For Environmental Change Aug 21, 2007
A problem has been "noise" natural variability caused by sampling and random events that affect atmospheric chemistry. Noise can make it hard to tease out trends from the data. (Science Daily)
Diverse group looks back from space Aug 18, 2007
In 1997, she received the Camille and Henry Drefus Fellowship in Environmental Science to study atmospheric chemistry at the University of California, Irvine. Selected by NASA in June 1998, Calwell was first assigned to the Astronaut Office ISS Operations Branch as a Russian crusader, participating in the testing and integration of Russian hardware and software products developed for the Space Station. (The Citizen - online, TX)
Local briefs Aug 12, 2007
Published - August, 12, 2007. Man apparently drowns in downtown swimming pool. (Pensacola News Journal)
Worldwide acclaim for chemistry professor is rooted in Mexico, Mo. Aug 11, 2007
Stating "There's a lot of relatedness in these things," Hase said a similar premise is part of a current study he and his staff are conducting in atmospheric chemistry. "We all know about global warming, and the effect of CO2 (carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere to hold heat in," said Hase. (Mexico Ledger, MO)
Beaumont Grad To Celebrate Birthday In Space Aug 9, 2007
Caldwell was working as a postdoctoral researcher UC Irvine's AirUCI, the campus' atmospheric chemistry research group, when she was chosen to be part of the astronaut corps in 1998. Joining Caldwell aboard Endeavour will be a stuffed UC Irvine anteater mascot. (NBC4.tv, CA)
Pollution Amplifies Greenhouse Gas Warming Trends To Jeopardize Asian Water Supplies Aug 3, 2007
The team led by Scripps atmospheric chemistry professor V. Ramanathan describes findings that atmospheric brown clouds enhanced solar heating of the lower atmosphere by about 50 percent in a paper to be released in the Aug. 2 edition of the journal Nature. The combined heating effect of greenhouse gases and the brown clouds, which contain soot, trace metals and other particles from a growing cadre of urban, industrial and agricultural sources, is enough to account for the retreat of Himalayan... (Science Daily)
Asian Brown Clouds Intensify Global Warming Aug 2, 2007
Led by Scripps atmospheric chemistry professor Veerabhadran Ramanathan, the team describes their findings in a paper to be published in the August 2 edition of the journal "Nature.". Not entirely made up of water vapor like regular clouds, brown clouds contain soot, sulfates, nitrates, hundreds of organic compounds, and fly ash from urban, industrial and agricultural sources. (Environment News Service)
Rising Surface Ozone Reduces Plant Growth And Adds To Global Warming Jul 28, 2007
Dr Stephen Sitch, a climate impacts scientist at the Met Office Hadley Centre and lead author of the article, said: "Climate models have largely ignored atmospheric chemistry but in this research we have identified a cause of potentially increased warming with elevated levels of surface ozone likely to suppress plant growth.". Plants and soil are currently slowing--down global warming by storing about a quarter of human carbon dioxide emissions, but the new study suggests that this could be... (Science Daily)
New Clues To Ozone Depletion Jul 28, 2007
John Plane, professor of atmospheric chemistry at the University of Leeds, says: "Halogens in the lowest part of the atmosphere have important impacts on ozone depletion, the ability of the atmosphere to remove potentially harmful compounds, and aerosol formation. All these atmospheric phenomena are linked to climate change. We still have to work out what the ramifications of this discovery are. These exciting results also show how important it is to keep exploring the atmosphere - there seems... (Science Daily)
The Role Of Isoprenes In Protecting Leaves From High Ambient Temperature Jul 27, 2007
Isoprene is a hydrocarbon volatile compound emitted in high quantities by many woody plant species, with significant impact on atmospheric chemistry. The Australian Blue Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Eastern United States are so called because of the spectral properties of the huge amounts of isoprenes emitted from the trees growing there. (Science Daily)
Scientists find ozone-depleting chemicals in Antarctica Jul 27, 2007
Halogens in the lowest part of the atmosphere have important impacts on ozone depletion, the ability of the atmosphere to remove potentially harmful compounds, and aerosol formation, John Plane, professor of atmospheric chemistry at the University of Leeds, said. The halogens cause a substantial depletion in ozone above the ice surface, affecting the so-called oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere, its ability to "clean itself" by removing certain often man-made chemical compounds. (Xinhuanet, China)
NASA probes get new mission Jul 11, 2007
"By using spacecraft already in space, researchers can complete experiments for about 15 percent of the cost of new missions, Stern said.NASA tapped Deep Impact's remaining Flyby mothership, which successfully unleashed its Impactor probe to crash into the Comet Tempel 1 on July 4, 2005, for two new science missions, though only one includes another comet.The spacecraft, which is about the size of a mid-size sport utility vehicle and carries two cameras, will be recycled into the EPOXI mission... (Florida Today)
NASA's Stardust And Deep Impact Will Observe More Comets And Extrasolar Planets Jul 11, 2007
John Mather, Chief Scientist for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said, "EPOXI is a wonderful opportunity to add to our growing body of knowledge of exoplanets. Watching planets go behind or in front of their parent stars can tell us about their atmospheric chemistry.". The other newly selected Discovery mission of opportunity is called New Exploration of Tempel 1 (NExT). (Science Daily)
NASA Gives Two Successful Spacecraft New Assignments Jul 4, 2007
John Mather, Chief Scientist for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said, "EPOXI is a wonderful opportunity to add to our growing body of knowledge of exoplanets. Watching planets go behind or in front of their parent stars can tell us about their atmospheric chemistry." The other newly selected Discovery mission of opportunity is called New Exploration of Tempel 1 (NExT). The mission will reuse NASA's Stardust spacecraft to revisit comet Tempel 1. (PR Newswire)
NASA Recycles Old Spacecraft for New Missions Jul 4, 2007
Watching planets go behind or in front of their parent stars can tell us about their atmospheric chemistry. " Stardust returns While the Flyby spacecraft heads off to a new comet, NASA's Stardust probe will actually revisit Deep Impact's Tempel 1 target. Originally launched in 1999, Stardust chased down the Comet Wild 2 (pronounced "Vilt 2") for a 2004 rendezvous that swung within 150 miles (241 kilometers) of the icy wanderer. A sample canister aboard Stardust caught tiny pieces of Wild 2 and... (Space.com)
Two old space probes get new assignments Jul 4, 2007
"Watching planets go behind or in front of their parent stars can tell us about their atmospheric chemistry.". NExT: Revisiting Comet Tempel 1The other newly selected Discovery mission of opportunity is called NExT, or New Exploration of Tempel 1. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Greenland's ice meltdown quickens Jul 2, 2007
"There is broad consensus now that global warming is very real and that it's accelerating," said Greg Huey, professor of atmospheric chemistry at Georgia Institute of Technology who completed two months of field work last week, his third trip to Greenland. Huey is investigating high levels of NOx -- the same stew of nitrogen oxide gases found in urban smog from New York City to Los Angeles -- that form near the snow's surface on sunny days across the Greenland ice cap. (Albany Times Union)
Should the Executive Branch be immune from Congressional subpoenas? I guess today Cheney is back considering himself part of the Executive Branch. Really, folks, is this acceptable to you? More... Jun 29, 2007
Regarding climate change, the necessary disciplines of meteorology, climatology, atmospheric chemistry and physics, geology, palaeoceanography, quaternary science, mathematics-statistics and modeling are required. Of the aforementioned letter writers, apparently only Mr. McPhee is versed only in chemistry. (North County Times)
Computer Models Suggest Planetary And Extrasolar Planet Atmospheres Jun 22, 2007
New computer models, from both Earth-based spectroscopy and space mission data, are providing space scientists compelling evidence for a better understanding of planetary atmospheric chemistry ... Fegley provided an overview of comparative planetary atmospheric chemistry at the 233rd American Chemical Society National Meeting, held March 25-29, 2007, in Chicago. (Science Daily)
Plant Life On Extrasolar Earthlike Planets Could Be Black Jun 21, 2007
Scientists who speculate on plant life and what might constitute photosynthesis "out there" say that plant color depends on the size and light intensity that the planet feeds off from its star, or sun, as well as the extrasolar planet's atmospheric chemistry ... But it all depends on what size and light intensity of star or sun the planet feeds off, and the extrasolar planet's atmospheric chemistry. (Science Daily)
Scientists Study Sun's Radiation To Track Pollution Sources Jun 20, 2007
Colorado State University scientists are studying the reduction of solar ultraviolet radiation by atmospheric particles to learn how the various sources of pollution - biomass burning, auto exhaust and oil refining - affect the atmospheric chemistry and air quality of Mexico City. This particular technique will be used along with data retrieval from satellites around the world to study the influence of pollution on global warming and climate change. (Science Daily)
Huge Balls of Fire Found Rocketing Above Clouds Jun 14, 2007
The discovery challenges current theories of how mysterious sprites form and could lead to new understanding of atmospheric chemistry ... Still, the energy is released so quickly that Nielsen thinks some yet-to-be-discovered atmospheric chemistry is occurring. (Fox News)
Glaciers one day, sea the next: melting of poles gathers pace Jun 9, 2007
Published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, the study used a computer model that incorporated more information than previous ones on factors such as changes in solar radiation, volcanic particles, soot, land use and clouds. In another study, British Antarctic Survey scientists reported this week they had tracked the flow of more than 300 previously unstudied glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula using satellite radar systems. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Solar Shield Could be Quick Fix for Global Warming Jun 8, 2007
On 1 June, James Hansen, head of NASA's Institute for Space Studies in the US, published a paper stating that Earths' climate system has (Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol 7, p 2287). Lesser of two evils. (Newsmax)
Earth's Climate Approaches Dangerous Tipping Point Jun 4, 2007
The research appears in the current issue of "Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.". In January 2006, Dr. Hansen said that officials at NASA headquarters had ordered the public affairs staff to review his coming lectures, papers, postings on the Goddard website and requests for interviews from journalists. (Environment News Service)
NASA chief says global warming may not be a concern Jun 2, 2007
On Wednesday, Griffin's own agency put out a news release about a research paper written by nearly 50 NASA and Columbia University scientists and published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. The paper shows how "human-made greenhouse gases have brought the Earth's climate close to critical tipping points, with potentially dangerous consequences for the planet.". (North County Times)
Scientists Study Impact Of Asian Dust On Weather, Climate Jun 2, 2007
His three-dimensional atmospheric chemistry model is currently used to track man-made chemicals released into the atmosphere. The UIowa-STEM model, as it is famously known, was one of the principal scientific tools used in PACDEX to design aircraft flight paths to and from the United States. (Science Daily)
NASA: Earth nearing climate 'tipping points' Jun 1, 2007
If global emissions of carbon dioxide continue to rise at the rate of the past decade, this research shows that there will be disastrous effects, including increasingly rapid sea level rise, increased frequency of droughts and floods, and increased stress on wildlife and plants due to rapidly shifting climate zones," lead author James Hansen of NASA's Goddard Institute was quoted as saying in the NASA statement.The study defined tipping points as episodes where even moderate additional warming... (MSNBC -- Environment)
