Description
FYO9 Information Sheet
The Atmospheric Composition and Climate Program pursues two overall research objectives: (i) to improve the predictive understanding of the radiative forcing of the climate system by aerosols and by chemically active greenhouse gases, such as tropospheric ozone and methane, and (ii) to better characterize the recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer, including its role in climate change. The integrated research activities that address these objectives involve field and laboratory studies, instrument development, regional to global observations, and theoretical modeling by NOAA and extramural partners. Primary emphasis is on process research that will contribute to the improvement of climate modeling ability for the support of policymakers.
ACCP's current research focus encompasses the following tasks: aerosol-radiation and aerosol-cloud interactions; characterization of stratospheric ozone-layer recovery; interplay between chemistry, clouds, radiation, and climate; characterization of the role of tropospheric ozone in climate; and quantifying the longer-lived non-CO2 greenhouse gases. ACCP also funds decision support and community-wide support activities. ACCP's recent focus for competitive awards has been on processes by which aerosols and tropospheric ozone affect the Earth's radiative balance.
