The Aeronomy Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, conducts scientific research on the chemical and dynamical processes of the Earth's atmosphere, concentrating on the lower two atmospheric layers known as the troposphere and stratosphere. Through laboratory, field, and modeling approaches, the Aeronomy Lab scientists are advancing the scientific understanding of the stratospheric ozone layer, regional air quality, and climate change. The overall aim of the Aeronomy Laboratory research is to improve the capability to observe, understand, predict, and protect the quality of the atmosphere.
The Aeronomy Lab's research findings provide a sound scientific basis for decisions made in industry and government related to ozone layer protection, air quality improvement, and climate change understanding. The Aeronomy Laboratory plays leading roles in producing "state-of-the-science" assessment reports for use by national and international decisionmakers on all three of those topics.
CLIMATE AND OZONE-LAYER RESEARCH
Aeronomy Laboratory climate research contributes toward an improved understanding
of (i) the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, and (ii) the chemistry,
radiation, and dynamics of climate. Efforts include:
- determining the atmospheric lifetimes of greenhouse gases
- assessing the "climate friendliness" of proposed replacements for ozone-damaging chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
- advancing understanding of tropospheric "greenhouse" ozone, aerosols, clouds, and radiation understanding the relationships between tropical dynamics and climate variability
- helping to assess the role of aviation in climate and ozone-layer depletion characterizing the chemical and dynamical factors that affect stratospheric ozone depletion, both at the poles and at more-populated midlatitudes
- gaining a better predictive understanding of the role of natural and human influences on ozone-layer variations during the coming vulnerable decade of highest ozone depletion
- playing leading roles in international science assessment reports on both climate (the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and the ozone layer (the World Meteorological Organization/United Nations Environment Programme)
Examples of recent research that are on our home page are:
- Participation in the SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment (SOLVE) to study wintertime ozone-layer losses in the Northern Hemisphere polar region
- Participation in the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) field campaigns to study how tropical precipitating systems affect the radiative balance of the earth/ocean/atmosphere system.
For more information contact:
Aeronomy Laboratory
325 Broadway
Boulder, Colorado 80303
303-497-3134
http://www.al.noaa.gov
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