Potential topics for Meteo 532, Atmospheric Chemistry

fall, 2002

1.  Effects of subsonic aircraft on the chemistry of the upper troposphere. Are they a significant source of NO _x?

2.  Arctic haze phenomenon – What is destroying the springtime O₃ in the Artic troposphere?

3.  Are halogens important oxidants in the troposphere?

4.  For air quality, is it better to build lots of small power plants or a few big ones?

5.  How do clouds influence global tropospheric chemistry?

6.  The links between PM2.5 and health. What is the evidence?

7.  Using statistics to define air quality standards. Are they robust? Do they make sense? 

8.  Reactivity-based VOCs regulations. How would it work?

9.  Aerosols and climate: What are the mechanisms? What are the uncertainties?  What are the ways that aerosols and their                 chemical composition influence climate change?

10.  Photochemical modeling. Which EPA models are available? How do they work? What can they do?

11.   Acid rain. Has it diminished nationally as a result of NAPAP? What about locally?

12.  How can ratios of chemical species, such as hydrocarbons, be used to measure reaction time between the source region and                 any downwind position?

13.  What will result in cleaner air: building a few big power plants or many smaller power plants?

14.  Intercontinental transport of pollutants: What is the evidence?  What gets transported?

15.  Cumulus convection as elevators:  which chemicals get transported and why.

16.  Methyl bromide: its uses and its effects.  The case for its regulation.