Title: Using satellite-based infrared measurements to characterize emissions and chemistry of atmospheric volatile organic compounds
Bio: https://atmoschem.umn.edu/people
Abstract:
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play important roles in the atmosphere as precursors of ozone and aerosols, which are climate forcers and the main components of smog. VOCs also affect the atmosphere’s oxidizing capacity, and thereby help determine the lifetimes of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. VOCs are emitted from a wide array of natural and anthropogenic sources; characterizing these emissions and their chemical impacts is a central challenge in the field of atmospheric chemistry. Several key VOCs absorb at thermal infrared wavelengths and can be detected from space using satellite-borne sounding instruments. In this seminar I will discuss my group’s work developing and applying this capability to better understand surface emissions of VOCs and their effects on atmospheric oxidation.
Keywords: Atmospheric chemistry, remote sensing, volatile organic compounds
Host: Prof. Tim Bertram