Organization:
Research Title: Global Tropospheric Chemistry Program
Funding Level (millions of dollars):
| FY94 | 12.4 |
|---|---|
| FY95 | 12.8 |
| FY96 | 12.4 |
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Component:
(a) Subcommittee: Global Change Research Subcommittee (100%)
NSTC Committee on Fundamental Science
(b) Environmental Issue: Chemically Induced Changes (100%);
(c) Research Activity: System Structure and function: Understanding (80%);
Prediction
(20%)
Organizational Component:
Directorates for Geosciences and Mathematical and
Physical Sciences
Division of Atmospheric Sciences
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22230
Point of Contact:
Jarvis Moyers
Phone: 703-306-1522
E-Mail: jmoyers@nsf.gov
Research Goals:
To provide an improved understanding of how chemically and radiatively
important
substances of natural and anthropogenic origin enter the atmosphere, are physically
and
chemically transformed, and are ultimately removed.
Research Description:
The Global Tropospheric Chemistry Program is a focused atmospheric chemistry
program
designed to provide a better understanding of how substances of natural or
anthropogenic
origin enter the atmosphere, are physically and chemically transformed, and
ultimately
removed. The overall objective of this program is to measure, understand, and
thereby
predict changes in the chemistry of the global atmosphere with particular emphasis
on
changes affecting the radiative properties and oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere
and the
atmospheric component of biogeochemical cycles. This objective is to be
accomplished
through field and laboratory investigations as well as theory aided by appropriate
statistical
and mathematical modeling. Available funds will be used to permit NSF supported
scientists at the Universities and the National Center for Atmospheric Research to
participate in major international regional field experiments in FY 1995 through
FY 1999
and to identify, analyze, and develop mathematical and statistical models of
atmospheric
chemistry that can be used for process understanding and climate prediction
purposes.
Laboratory investigations of the mechanisms and rates of atmospheric chemical
reactions
of
climatic importance will also be supported under this program. A portion of the
program's
funds will be used to help offset the costs of development, procurement, and
evaluation
of
advanced instrumentation required for future observational projects. Major GTCP
activities, including aircraft and land-based field observations to investigate the
atmospheric
cycles of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, and oxidant species, and the development of
tropospheric chemistry models, have been and are currently being planned and
scheduled
for the period 1995-1999.
Program Interfaces:
Program Milestones:
GTCP participation in multi-agency and international field projects scheduled for
1995 and
beyond include studies of surface exchange processes in the tropics; photochemistry
experiments in the atmosphere over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; and studies of
the role
of atmospheric sulfur compounds on the distribution of aerosols and on the
physical
properties of clouds.
Policy Payoffs:
In the short-term, field, laboratory, and theoretical tests will allow identification
of
greenhouse gas sources, sinks and lifetimes, the role of anthropogenic sulfate
aerosols
in
offsetting trace-gas greenhouse warming, and an improved understanding of the
factors
which control the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere. Incorporation of these and
other
chemical processes in global chemistry and climate models will improve predictions
and
assessments of future changes in atmospheric composition and the resulting impact
such
changes may have on climate forcing.