Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling (ACOM)

ACOM Publication of the Month

Siyuan Wang and co-authors, 2019: Direct detection of atmospheric atomic bromine leading to mercury and ozone depletion, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

ACOM News

Scientists on a NASA-flown DC-8 were able to photograph and view this wildfire-produced thunderstorm. Layers of smoke in the atmosphere near the thunderstorm make the sun appear orange. (Photo courtesy of David Peterson, Naval Research Laboratory)

Washington wildfire smoke triggered a thunderstorm – and NASA researchers flew through it.

The phenomenon, called a pyrocumulonimbus or PyroCb, “is essentially a thunderstorm that is created or driven by a wildfire,” said David Peterson (Naval Research Laboratory). “As we fly into this deep smoke, the light... Read more

View of Denver skyline from south Table Mountain (STM). 28 September 2012. Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Department_of_Energy_-_Science_-_298_047_001_(27040059996).jpg

When The Air Gets Dirty In Denver, Should You Head For The Hills?

Sparked by a listener question, CPR Colorado Matters interviewed ACOM Scientist Gabriele Pfister about the transport of ozone pollution from the Colorado Front Range to the mountains. Pfister has been tracking the movement... Read more

Xuan Zhang and students in MOONLIGHT chamber study.

Xuan Zhang leads chamber study of monoterpene and oxygenated aromatics

ACOM scientist Xuan Zhang recently led a major community project in the NCAR Atmospheric Simulation Chamber. The study called MOONLIGHT (Monoterpene and Oxygenated aromatics Oxidation at Night and under LIGHTs) lasted about... Read more

Tucson, Arizona, with the Santa Catalina Mountains in the background. Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CatalinasAndTucsonAZ.jpg

As temperatures rise in Tucson, so do concerns over health risks linked to higher ozone levels

Tuscon.com reported on the correlation between rising temperatures and higher ozone levels in Arizona and interviewed ACOM scientist Gabi Pfister on her 2014 study on expected changes in air quality in... Read more