RESEARCH

Climate

The temperature of the Earth is warmer now than at any period in at least the last several centuries. This warming is predominantly attributed to the addition of heat-trapping greenhouse gases (GHGs) to the atmosphere. Increases in sources of aerosol particles and their subsequent impact on radiation (termed ‘the direct effect’) and on cloud formation (termed ‘the indirect effect’) have offset some of, but not all, the GHG warming. Increases in chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have depleted the stratospheric ozone layer, and changes in the ozone layer can also affect climate of the lower atmosphere.

Atmospheric Chemistry at MIT tackles these issues using a combination of field studies, laboratory experiments, analysis of satellite and other data, and models from small to global scale. Our work considers more than gases and particles, and includes broader impacts on biogeochemistry and feedbacks on the larger Earth system. Specific focus areas include:

  • chemistry-climate interactions
  • aerosols & clouds
  • biogeochemistry
  • stratospheric chemistry

Research Spotlight:

Rwanda Climate Change Observatory
Research Spotlight Rwanda Climate Change Observatory The Center for Global Change Science (Professor Ronald Prinn, Director) is collaborating with the Ministry of Education of Rwanda to establish a major Climate Change Observatory and develop educational and research programs in climate science that use the Observatory measurements. This involves: preparation and construction of sites for both a permanent observatory on Mt. Karisimbi, and for an interim observatory on Mt. Mugogo for testing and training; acquisition and …
Exploring Stratospheric Ozone Changes
Research Spotlight: Exploring stratospheric ozone changes and their influence on tropospheric climate While the Antarctic ozone hole represents the most spectacular example of ozone depletion, losses of ozone have occurred in other regions of the world, raising questions about their origins, magnitude, and influences on climate. The Solomon group’s foci include detailed examination of changes in ozone in the tropical and mid-latitude lower stratosphere, their radiative effects, and the range of uncertainties in estimates of …
Relative Impact of Future Emissions
Research Spotlight: Investigating the relative impacts of future emissions, climate and land use change Atmospheric composition is evolving on timescales from seconds to decades in response to changes in emissions and climate. In the Heald group, research is focused on understanding the critical role that land use change and biosphere-atmosphere interactions can also play in controlling future atmospheric composition. We use state of the art global climate models to explore these coupled processes. For example, …
Clouds can be supercharged by lead
Research Spotlight: Clouds can be ‘supercharged’ by lead By combining field collections of the ice crystals with laboratory measurements the Cziczo group has been able to show that lead-containing particles act as highly effective cloud formation agents. Although anthropogenic lead has decreased since the heyday of leaded gas in the 1970’s and 80’s the vast majority of atmospheric lead still comes from human activities. Understanding future emissions will be critical to understanding possible effects on …