Webinar 19 "Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Change"

Talk 1  Climate forcing by atmospheric aerosols PPT and VIDEO
Talk 2 Atmospheric Carbonaceous Aerosols  PPT  and  VIDEO
Talk 3 Atmospheric Mineral Dust  PPT and VIDEO
Talk 4 Ocean Acidification  PPT and VIDEO 
Space Education and Research Foundation announces, its 19^th webinar. This will be on “Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Change”. This webinar will have four scientific talks by Prof. M. M. Sarin (PRL Ahmedabad). The live transmission will be daily one talk during 06:00 to 07:00 UT on 13th, 14th, 15th and 18th November 2019.

Please check the time at your location (e.g. in India it will be 11:30 to 12:30 IST).

The titles of the talks are as follows:

Talk 1 (13 Nov 2019 Wednesday):  Climate forcing by atmospheric aerosols

Talk 2 (14 Nov 2019 Thursday): Atmospheric Carbonaceous Aerosols

Talk 3 (15 Nov 2019 Friday): Atmospheric Mineral Dust

Talk 4 (18 Nov 2019 Monday): Ocean Acidification

About the Speaker (Prof. M. M Sarin)

Prof Sarin, DST-SERB Distinguished Fellow, is an Honorary Scientist associated with the Geosciences Division at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad (India). He obtained his M.Sc. degree in Chemistry from Nagpur University and Ph. D degree from Physical Research Laboratory where he served as Senior Professor until 2013. His research interests include “Atmospheric and Aerosol Chemistry, Chemical Oceanography and Geochemistry of Rivers” and has published 155 research papers in peer-reviewed Journals. He is a Fellow of all three Science Academies in India. Prof Sarin served as Project Director of ISRO-Geosphere Biosphere Programme on “Atmospheric mineral dust”; and as a Member of Int’l “Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution” and “Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research”. He also worked as visiting Professor at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Massachusetts (USA) and at Ocean Research Institute, Tokyo University (Japan). Currently, he is Vice-Chairman of “United Nations Group of Experts on Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection”.

Summary of the talks is given below:

Talk 1 (13 Nov 2019):  Climate forcing by atmospheric aerosols

With the natural variability in emissions and circulation patterns and the current changes brought about by anthropogenic activities; the distribution and chemical properties of atmospheric aerosols and their direct/indirect effects on climate are the focus of present-day scientific issues. It is essential that such connections are represented accurately in the global climate models, both for forecasting climate-state and climate-change.

Talk 2 (14 Nov 2019): Atmospheric Carbonaceous Aerosols

The impact of large-scale biomass burning emissions (BBEs) on atmospheric chemistry and climate change has been a subject of major debate in recent years. On global scale, BBEs are the dominant source of atmospheric carbonaceous aerosols [Organic Carbon (OC) and Elemental Carbon (EC)]. In addition, atmospheric Brown Carbon (BrC) – Light-absorbing organic matter from BBEs is also gaining significant importance.

Talk 3 (15 Nov 2019): Atmospheric Mineral Dust

Mineral dust tends to originate from very specific areas and then transported over long distance, influencing climate and chemistry of the atmosphere on regional and global scales. Climatic effects of mineral dust include reflection and absorption of incoming solar radiation and impacts on cloud formation, cloud properties and precipitation. The role of hygroscopic dust is being increasingly recognized in climate forcing models. Mineral dust is also important as an essential component of open ocean fertility, primarily as a source of iron.

Talk 4 (18 Nov 2019): Ocean Acidification

 The acidification of the ocean by anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂) absorbed from the atmosphere is now well-recognized and considered to have lowered surface ocean pH by 0.1 since the mid-18^th century. Other anthropogenic gases (SO_X, NO_X and NH₃ with short life-time) also have potential to alter ocean pH and CO2 chemistry.