Atmospheric chemistry

Atmospheric chemistry

A scientific study of the chemistry of the Earth's atmosphere and that of other planets.

Industry: Chemistry; Weather

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Atmospheric chemistry

nuclear winter

Chemistry; Atmospheric chemistry

In the event of a significant nuclear war, researchers (Paul Crutzen and John Birks initially) predicted that a barrier of smoke (from incinerated urban centers and forests) would fill tropospheric ...

acidification

Chemistry; Atmospheric chemistry

In the gas phase this process happens when compounds like nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides are converted in a chemical reaction in the gas phase or in clouds into acidic substances. These acids ...

summer solstice

Chemistry; Atmospheric chemistry

In the Northern Hemisphere occurs on about June 21 of each year. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and marks the beginning of the summer season. If the earth's axis were not tilted ...

spring equinox

Chemistry; Atmospheric chemistry

In the Northern hemisphere, March 21 or 22; on these dates, the rays of the sun are striking vertically at noon at the equator (0 degrees latitude), for the earth is in such a position in its orbit ...

photic zone

Chemistry; Atmospheric chemistry

In the ocean (or in lakes) this is the area near the surface with enough light to support photosynthesis. In this zone, both the chemical and biological activity can be enhanced by penetrating solar ...

halocline

Chemistry; Atmospheric chemistry

In the oceans, a well-defined steep vertical gradient of salinity, a change in aquatic salinity with depth. Though this varies with latitude, the halocline is from about 70 to 200-300 meters below ...

catalytic destruction of ozone

Chemistry; Atmospheric chemistry

In the stratosphere, anthropogenic chlorine, mostly from chlorofluorocarbons is released as atomic chlorine (a radical) and becomes involved in a chemical cycle that destroys stratospheric ozone: CF ...