Discovering, understanding, and quantifying the processes that control the chemical makeup of Earth's atmosphere to better understand its future – and ours

Chemical Sciences Division

Photos: Herald-Examiner Collection and G. Leonard Recent Findings: Air pollution in the Los Angeles region declines
Photo: J. Nowak, NOAA / CIRES Recent Findings: Previously unexplained higher levels of the greenhouse gas methane in the L.A. basin air traced to fossil-fuel sources
Image: NASA MODIS Recent Findings: Mineral dust and metallic particles are the core origin of cirrus clouds
Figure: I. Mahlstein, NOAA / CIRES Recent Findings: As the planet warms, not only do Earth's climate zones keep shifting, they actually shift at an accelerating pace
Photo: NOAA ATTREX: Global Hawk measures stratospheric water vapor to help predict climate change
Graphic: D. Fisher & C. Burgdorf, NOAA Our Research: Regions of Our Atmosphere

Climate Change

Earth's atmosphere is changing. CSD scientists work in the lab, in the field, and with computer models to understand how those changes will affect climate. Read More...

Air Quality

CSD researchers study the chemical and physical processes that affect air quality, to better understand and forecast pollution events and trends that threaten human health. Read More...

People have harmed Earth's protective ozone layer by releasing ozone-depleting chemicals into the atmosphere. CSD scientists are international leaders in the scientific understanding of stratospheric ozone depletion – and ozone recovery. Read More...

Research Overview

• Video Highlights

• Science Review

Research Products

• Instrumentation

• Datasets

• Field Campaigns

• Assessments

• Publications

• Fact Sheets

current Seminar ScheduleSeminars: Stephan Fueglistaler: Dynamics, radiation and cloud microphysics - what controls stratospheric water? June 26; Guy Brasseur: Monitoring, Analyzing and Predicting Chemical Weather in Asia July 8

more News & EventsNews & Events: Los Angeles air pollution declining, losing 'sting'; Mystery solved: "Extra" methane in LA's air traced to fossil-fuel sources; The origins of cirrus: Earth's highest clouds have dusty core

Research Groups

Cloud & Aerosol Processes Measuring and understanding how atmospheric particles affect clouds, climate, and air quality	Atmospheric Remote Sensing Developing and using laser-based instruments for deployment on land, ship, and airplane to understand atmospheric processes that affect air quality, weather, and climate	Regional Chemical Modeling Using models and observations to understand atmospheric pollutant transport, processing, and effects on air quality and climate
Tropospheric Chemistry Developing and deploying state-of-the-art instruments to understand how processes in the lower atmosphere affect air quality and climate today – and in the future	Atmospheric Composition & Chemical Processes Conducting airborne field missions and laboratory chemical measurements critical to understanding climate, air quality, and ozone depletion	Chemistry & Climate Processes Understanding atmospheric chemistry and climate processes with integrated analysis and modeling