Atmospheric Chemistry seminars

Cathy Clerbaux examines what satellite observations reveal about atmospheric pollution. The seminar distinguishes pollutants from greenhouse gases and explores how atmospheric constituents affect both air quality and climate. It reviews what measurements can establish, the comparisons they permit and the uncertainties that remain.

This lecture introduces atmospheric aerosols from deserts, oceans, volcanoes, fires and human activities. It examines how these particles travel and are deposited far from their sources. Their climatic effects are discussed alongside the satellite and ground-based observing programmes used to measure them.

Sophie Godin-Beekmann explains the chemical balance that maintains stratospheric ozone and how industrial chlorine- and bromine-containing compounds disrupted it. The seminar reviews the Montreal Protocol and measures aimed at restoring the ozone layer. It also considers the climate consequences of reducing ozone-depleting substances.

This lecture examines the composition of Earth's atmosphere and how it is reconstructed through time. It distinguishes abundant nitrogen and oxygen from trace gases whose concentrations respond strongly to human emissions. Measurements are used to compare natural changes with human influences relevant to climate.