News

Possible new threat to Earth’s ozone layer

The Montreal Protocol has been hailed for controlling chlorine-based chemicals that created a vast hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. But new research by British and American scientists suggest a chemical not controlled by the international treaty poses a potential risk to the Earth’s protective ozone layer.

Study published on reduced lifetime for a future strong greenhouse gas

NOAA/ESRL scientists and their colleagues at the University of East Anglia, Utrecht University, and NCAR calculated an atmospheric lifetime of the trace gas, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), based on measurements in the polar stratospheric vortex and modeled transport into the stratosphere.

Study: Global plant growth surging alongside carbon dioxide

A trace gas present in the atmosphere in miniscule amounts is helping scientists answer one of the biggest questions out there: Has plant growth increased alongside rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

Pacific Oxidants, Sulfur, Ice, Dehydration, and cONvection (POSIDON) Experiment

The NASA Pacific Oxidants, Sulfur, Ice, Dehydration, and cONvection (POSIDON) Experiment is a focused airborne science mission to study the ozone distribution, sulfur chemistry, very short-lived ozone depleting species (VSLS), cloud microphysics, and dehydration in the tropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere over the western Pacific.

ESRL's Brad Hall wins Governor's Award for High Impact Research

Brad Hall, a research scientist in the Global Monitoring Division of NOAA/ESRL, has been named a winner of the 2016 Governor's Award for High-Impact Research for his work on improving existing techniques to make calibration standards and measurements of very low concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone-depleting gases like chlorofluorocarbons.

Atmospheric Tomography Mission (ATom)

The Atmospheric Tomography Mission (ATom) is a NASA-funded multi-agency effort using the NASA DC-8 research aircraft to systematically sample trace gases and aerosols from sea level to the stratosphere on 10 pole-to-pole flights covering the Atlantic and Pacific oceans over the next 3 years. ATom will study the impact of human-produced air pollution on greenhouse gases and on chemically reactive gases in the atmosphere with a focus on ozone, methane, and black carbon, as well as atmospheric particulate matter.

When Less Is More

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was once commonly used as a cleaning agent and remains an important compound in the chemical industry. As a result, production across the globe has been banned for uses that result in CCl4 escaping to the atmosphere. A new study, led by CIRES scientist Lei Hu and NOAA scientist Stephen Montzka of NOAA ESRL's Global Monitoring Division, reports that release rates are still 30 to 100 times higher than amounts reported to emission inventories.

Bottled air from all over the world tells story of ozone-depleting gases and their connection to climate change

If you’re like me, when you hear the word “flask,” you’re likely to picture a grizzled, trail-weary cowboy gulping down a mouthful of whiskey from a tarnished, dented tin. But say “flask” to atmospheric chemist Steve Montzka, and he sees something more like a fire extinguisher or a stainless steel, two-liter soda bottle.

Recent adjustments to the Montreal Protocol help protect ozone layer, but newer chemicals contribute to warming

An international agreement in 2007 to deal with the last remaining ozone-depleting chemicals used in large quantities is working, according to a new analysis published today. Atmospheric emissions of those chemicals, called hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and used in refrigeration and air conditioning, are no longer increasing, after having increased consistently over the past few decades, according to NOAA measurements published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry

NOAA Scientists Contribute to 2014 Ozone Depletion Assessment

We talked with Dr. John Daniel, Research Physicist with NOAA Research’s Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) Chemical Sciences Division, and Steve Montzka, Atmospheric Scientist with ESRL’s Global Monitoring Division, about the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2014 and what inspired them to pursue a career in science.

UAS with NOAA ESRL instruments flies into the Earth’s coldest tropopause.

NOAA ESRL is participating in NASA Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) research flights from an airbase in Guam to study the coldest parts of the Earth’s tropopause over the tropical Western Pacific.

Global Hawk UAS Study of Climate Changing Stratospheric Water Vapor & Ozone

The first science flights of the NASA Global Hawk UAS in the winter portion of the Airborne Tropical TRopopause EXperiment (ATTREX) are set to begin the week of 28 January 2013. Six science flights from Edwards Air Force Base, California are scheduled. The UAS experimental payload includes two NOAA/ESRL instruments measuring water vapor, two measuring ozone and one measuring methane, nitrous oxide, hydrogen, and sulfur hexafluoride. Five NOAA/ESRL and six CIRES scientists are at the NASA Dryden facility supporting the missions.

Unmanned Aircraft Study of Stratospheric Water Vapor & Ozone, and Climate

Five NOAA/ESRL and five CIRES cooperative institute scientists will operate four atmospheric instruments including two ozone sensors, one water vapor sensor, and one greenhouse gases sensor for methane, nitrous oxide, and sulfur hexafluoride on the NASA Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to study the earth’s Tropical Tropopause Layer

Fifth and Final Pole-to-Pole Aircraft Study of Greenhouse Gases is Underway

Six NOAA and twelve CIRES cooperative institute employees from the NOAA Global Monitoring and Chemical Sciences Divisions of ESRL are involved in the fifth and final HIAPER Pole-to-Pole Aircraft Study of Greenhouse Gases and Black Carbon (HIPPO/5) survey beginning on August 9, 2011, and ending on September 9.

Fourth Pole-to-Pole Airborne Study of Greenhouse Gases and Black Carbon

The fourth, month-long, HIAPER Pole-to-Pole Observations of Greenhouse Gases and Black Carbon (HIPPO/4) aircraft survey will take place from 14 June to 15 July utilizing 12 flights to cover a total distance of 53,250 km on NCAR’s HIAPER or GV manned aircraft.