Objetivo
The main objective of this project is to improve the knowledge of the Oxidizing Capacity of the Tropospheric Atmosphere (OCTA).
The chemical state of the atmosphere is important because it controls both the production (eg. ozone) and the destruction (eg. methane and proposed CFC replacements) of many greenhouse gases.
The primary oxidizing agents in the atmosphere are the free radicals (most important the hydroxyl radical). The complex photochemistry of these species is highly non-linear, involving negative feedbacks with for example methane and is also strongly influenced by meteorological processes. Thus changes in the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere, brought about by man's activities, have important consequences for two major global environmental problems which face mankind, greenhouse warming and stratospheric ozone depletion. Information on the fundamental processes over a range of meteorological and chemical conditions is required before quantitative estimates of future changes can be made with chemical climate models.
Major aim is to contribute to this ultimate goal: by (i) measurement of key radical species in fully characterized air masses, (ii) tracking the evolution of primary and secondary chemical species in air parcels and (iii) combining measurements and the meteorological state of the atmosphere using photochemical transport models in summer and winter.
The studies will be conducted from a combination of platforms: (i) a sophisticated research aircraft, operated by the Meteorological Office Research Flight (MRF) and capable of a wide range of measurements, (ii), instrumented top measurement site and (iii) lighting balloon-borne instrumented packages. The planning of the measurement programme and interpretation of the results will use data from operational numerical weather prediction models. These data will also be combined with photochemical models of tropospheric chemistry.
The OCTA programme will be carried out by six research groups from three European countries.
Ámbito científico
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesmeteorology
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraft
- natural scienceschemical sciencesphysical chemistryphotochemistry
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencesozone depletion
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaliphatic compounds
Convocatoria de propuestas
Data not availableRégimen de financiación
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinador
GU14 0LX FARNBOROUGH
Reino Unido