The role of atmospheric chemistry in climate change
Surface emissions and concentrations of globally important trace gases are increasing. Climate models indicate significant temperature increases could occur in the next century due to increasing CO/sub 2/ concentrations. However, the combined direct radiative effects from other trace gases could be as large as those estimated for CO/sub 2/. Many of these gases also have indirect effects on climate through their chemical interactions with other radiatively important atmospheric constituents. For example, within the troposphere, emissions of CH/sub 4/, CO, and NO/sub x/ may increase concentrations of hydroxyl (OH), which, while not radiatively important, has an important impact on tropospheric chemistry and on the concentrations of long-lived gases reaching the stratosphere. In the stratosphere, dissociation of CH/sub 4/, N/sub 2/O, and the CFCs can lead to changes in the ozone distribution. Oxidation of increasing CH/sub 4/ concentrations would increase stratospheric concentrations of radiatively important water vapor. Climate change can, on the other hand, alter tropospheric H/sub 2/O concentrations, further affecting chemistry impacts on climate. In this paper, we examine the importance of chemical processes and other interactions in determining climatic change and future policy options. 28 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 7166168
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-97811; CONF-880679-8; ON: DE88012439
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKANES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMISTRY
CLIMATES
DISTRIBUTION
FLUIDS
GASES
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXYL RADICALS
ION SOURCES
KINETICS
METHANE
MODIFICATIONS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADICALS
REACTION KINETICS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION