Tropospheric Studies

Ozone in the troposphere is a greenhouse gas, a health hazard and harmful to plants and materials. In contrast to stratospheric ozone, which is necessary for life on earth, increases in tropospheric ozone are a cause for concern. Tropospheric ozone is highly variable. Highest concentrations are typically found in the upper troposphere, where air mixes with ozone-rich stratospheric air, and in polluted urban regions in summer. Before satellites provided a daily picture of global total ozone, scientists assumed the middle troposphere and the remote tropical troposphere were clean since they were usually removed from these two sources. Now troposheric ozone research is rapidly studying and trying to understand the processes responsible for the global tropospheric ozone distribution.

For more information, we have detailed discussions on recent results from TRACE-A--an aircraft experiment studying the high tropospheric ozone seen every Aug-Oct in the tropical S. Atlantic and adjacent Africa and S. America, and our research efforts looking at the link between chemistry and convection on tropospheric ozone.

What do we do?

In order to understand tropospheric ozone, the Tropospheric Studies group performs computer simulation of trace gas chemistry and transport to assess effects on global chemistry and climate change. We are active in planning, conducting and analyzing field data from NASA aircraft experiments, particularly those involving the link between chemistry, convection and biomass burning on ozone. We also perform chemical modeling studies of the marine boundary layer. We are part of the the TOMS science team and the EOS stratospheric and biogeochemical fluxes Interdisciplinary Science teams.

Who are we?

Principal Investigator:

Co-Investigators:

Key Collaborators: (for more information on these people)

Special tools and expertise

Weather systems in the troposphere are constantly moving and mixing air on the same time scales as chemical reactions change the chemical composition of the air. Our group offers a vital mix of chemical and meteorological expertise to analyze all aspects of tropospheric problems. Our group develops and maintains a set of one-dimensional chemical point and box models to simulate the chemical reaction schemes which produce tropospheric ozone. We run the code 916 isentropic trajectory model and the code 912 mesoscale and cloud models. We are enhancing the Goddard 3-Dimensional Chemistry and Transport Model for tropospheric applications.

Thanks to our sponsors

Where can you read more about us? (Recent publications)

Back to the Code 916 home page
Last Updated: 7 May 1996
Authors: Donna McNamara, Anne Thompson, Ken Pickering, Tom Kucsera
Web Curator: Leslie R. Lait (Hughes STX) (lrlait@ertel.gsfc.nasa.gov) and Donna P. McNamara (Applied Research Corp.) (mcnamara@caiman.gsfc.nasa.gov)
Responsible NASA organization/official: Dr. P. K. Bhartia, Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Branch Head