Atmospheric Trace Constituents and Global Climate

Suny At Albany, Albany NY

Investigators

Abstract

The PI has used the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Climate Model version 3, NCAR-CCM3, together with observational analyses to study climate processes important to atmospheric ozone and sulfate aerosols. In collaboration with Dr. Isaksen of the University of Oslo he has examined the chemical aspects of these constituents with the ultimate goal of developing a global climate-chemistry model. Under this renewal award, the PI will continue his effort focusing on the following: (i) the role of atmospheric ozone in affecting present climate; (ii) the effect of climate and climate change on ozone distribution; (iii) diagnoses of the systematic biases of the general circulation model simulated large-scale climate relevant to atmospheric chemistry, as part of the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project, AMIP; and (iv) projections of climate change. The work is important as it may provide background information useful for developing policy on emissions targets.