Organization: Department of Energy (DOE)

Research Title: Atmospheric Sciences Program

Funding Level (millions of dollars):

FY94	13.4
FY95	12.3
FY96	13.2

Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Component:
(a) Subcommittee: Global Change Research Subcommittee (100%) Air Quality Research Subcommittee (contributing) Risk Assessment Group
(b) Environmental Issue: Ozone and ultraviolet radiation (60%); Climate Change (40%)
(c) Research Activity: System structure and function: Understanding (60%); Predictions (20%); Assessment: Integrated assessments (20%)

Organizational Component:
Environmental Sciences Division
Office of Health and Environmental Research
Office of Energy Research; ER-74
U.S. Department of Energy
Washington, DC 20585

Point of Contact:
Rickey C. Petty
Phone: 301-903/5548
E-Mail: rick.petty@mailgw.er.doe.gov

Research Goals:
To provide understanding and information on atmospheric processes controlling ozone and UV-b trends; effects of UV-induced DNA damage on reproductive success of plants and animals; heterogeneous chemistry; and aerosol formation; and the transport, dispersion, and ultimate fate of energy-related emissions.

Research Description:
The DOE Atmospheric Sciences Program (ASP) addresses global change issues on both regional and global scales, and includes coordinated modeling, laboratory, and field- campaign efforts. Research is conducted to understand the physical and chemical processes related to tropospheric and stratospheric ozone and UV-b trends and aerosols. Research includes: 1) aerosol influences on clouds and climate forcing, 2) pollution influences on stratospheric ozone and associated effects on surface UV-b radiation, 3) multinational contributions to the global emissions pool, 4) fine-particle modeling and statistical research, 5) ozone assessment in the atmospheric environment, 6) research in visibility reduction, 7) studying various influences on wet and dry deposition patterns, 8) measurement and modeling atmospheric flow in complex terrain, and 9) UV effects on reproduction of terrestrial, marine, and freshwater species.

Much of ASP's field research is conducted in conjunction with DOE's Gulfstream aircraft, which is deployed periodically on scheduled field campaigns. Field results typically are interpreted using ASP-developed models, including the reactive storm model Pluvius and the global air-quality models GChM and GranTour and regional models such as MM-5.

Program Interfaces:
DOE's Atmospheric Sciences Program interfaces with collective efforts that are operative on both international and domestic scales. Internationally ASP links strongly with the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) program, particularly through the North Atlantic Regional Experiment, the East Asian-North Pacific Regional Study (APARE), and the forthcoming Aerosol Chemistry Experiment (ACE-2). ASP intends to interface strongly with the North American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone (NARSTO). Aerosol research is also linked to ARM.

Program Milestones:
1995: Complete analysis of NARSTO field data. 1995: Conduct Pacific Influx field study over Northeastern Pacific. 1996: Conduct second Pacific Influx field study; (Anticipated): Conduct first joint NARSTO flight series. (Detailed milestones given in ACP Program Operations Plan DOE/ER-0586T, 1994).

Policy Payoffs:
The policy payoffs will be to provide DOE with the advanced information, pertaining to the atmospheric environment, that is required for long-range energy planning in fulfillment of the National Energy Policy Act. The research results will provide: (i) An improved characterization of anthropogenic impacts on the chemical state of the free troposphere; (ii) a more accurate characterization of aerosol genesis, transport, and distributions, and associated influences on climate; (iii) more focused modeling efforts in understanding the processes involved with stratospheric/tropospheric ozone/UV-b relationships and associated implications regarding precursor emission control; (iv) an improved understanding of free-tropospheric ozone inputs to domestic surface pollution levels and associated implications regarding VOC and NO _x controls.