The changing composition of the atmosphere affects both regional air quality and global climate. Measurements and model simulations aim to better understand the distribution and impacts of trace gases, aerosol components, and cloud- and rainwater composition. Process studies focus on aerosol formation from gases (gas-to-particle conversion), impacts of climate change and pollution on the self-cleaning efficiency of the atmosphere, cycling of nitrogen oxides, and ozone deposition to ocean waters. We are using aerosol mass spectrometry for high time resolution measurements of size resolved aerosol composition and, starting in 2009, chemical ionization mass spectrometry to monitor atmospheric OH radicals, gaseous sulfuric acid, and other compounds at < ppt levels.

People

Prof. Colin O’Dowd Director of the Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies (C-CAPS); and School of Physics Phone: (091) 49 3306; Email: colin.odowd@nuigalway.ie ——— Research interests include atmospheric aerosol formation, transformation and climate effects, air quality, climate-air quality interactions, air-sea exchange, biogeochemical cycling, as well as measurements and modeling of aforementioned themes.

Dr. Harald Berresheim School of Physics Phone: (091) 49 5705; Email: harald.berresheim@nuigalway.ie ——— Research interests include: (i) atmospheric composition and climate change, (ii) atmospheric oxidation efficiency, (iii) atmospheric aerosols: gas-to-particle conversion, gas-particle interactions, (iv) potential health effects of trace gases and aerosols, (v) mass spectrometry and its applications to atmospheric and environmental analysis.

Dr. Micheal Hartnett College of Engineering and Informatics Phone: (091) 49 2502; Email: michael.hartnett@nuigalway.ie ——— Research activities include coastal, shelf and ocean modelling; hydrodynamics; water quality modelling; numerical and scale modelling; structural dynamics (offshore structures and train-bridge interactions).

Prof. Gerard Jennings Professor Emiritus, School of Physics Phone: (091) 49 2704; Email: gerard.jennings@nuigalway.ie ——— Main research interest is in the fields of atmospheric aerosol and cloud physics, climate and environmental change, atmospheric pollution and air quality, and electromagnetic radiation propagation in cloud and aerosol media. Prof. Jennings was instrumental, in collaboration with departmental colleagues, in establishing and operating the Atmospheric Research Station at Mace Head, near Carna, Co. Galway.