Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/C518230/1
The atmospheric chemistry of organic hydroperoxides
Fellowship Award
- Fellow:
- Dr D JOHNSON, University of Reading, Chemistry
- Grant held at:
- University of Reading, Chemistry
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Pollution and Waste
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Environment & Health
- Atmospheric Kinetics
- Tropospheric Processes
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- Many tonnes of carbon-rich (organic) pollutants are emitted annually to the Earth's atmosphere as a result of human activities (e.g. industry, automobiles, farming practices) and from natural plant sources. Under the action of sunlight, these potentially harmful chemicals are broken down, ultimately, to carbon dioxide and water as a result of a complex and rich variety of chemical reactions. The concentrations of these 'reactants' are small (often less than one molecule of organic pollutant for every billion (1000 000 000) constituent air molecules) but the effects of their presence and their chemistry may be of great significance. For example, certain reaction products may be directly harmful to humans - having been shown to correlate with increased rates of human mortality - and agricultural crops, or may perturb the Earth's climate and contribute to global warming. The study of atmospheric chemistry in the laboratory is necessary in order to better understand the patterns of chemical processes occurring in the real atmosphere at the present time and in order to be able to predict how the atmosphere will react to changes in, for example, human activity and hence (so-called) anthropogenic pollution. The formation of ozone and particulate material in the troposphere (the region of the atmosphere nearest the Earth's surface) are two very important areas of concern and both are brought about, or promoted, by the presence of organic pollutants. Organic hydroperoxides (chemically related to hydrogen peroxide) are intermediate reaction products involved in the complex cycles of reactions giving rise to ozone formation and are strongly implicated in the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particulate material. Ozone and SOA are both directly harmful to human health. Additionally, SOA can scatter incoming solar radiation and can affect the properties and lifetime of clouds (which also reflect incoming solar radiation) -both affecting the Earth's climate. The atmospheric chemistry of organic hydroperoxides (how they are formed; how they are destroyed) is far from well understood and thus it is proposed that a much better understanding of their atmospheric reactivity will help in providing a better assessment of issues such as photochemical smog and climate change. For example, the inclusion of such experimental data into computer models will allow an assessment of our current understanding of the science underlying these globally important processes.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/C518230/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Advanced Fellow
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Advanced Fellow
This fellowship award has a total value of £266,163
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs |
|---|---|
| £211,163 | £55,000 |
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