SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018-2020 - Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Otto Hahn Institute) - Max-Planck-Institut für ...
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SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020 Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Otto Hahn Institute)
Atmospheric Chemistry · Climate Geochemistry · Multiphase Chemistry · Particle Chemistry
SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMISTRY | SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
CONTENT
4 5
6 Preface
42 CLIMATE GEOCHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT 76 PARTICLE CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT 92 FURTHER RESEARCH GROUPS
8 GENERAL INFORMATION 46 aharan dust sources, outflow, and Amazon rainforest
S 80 The Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer – a conundrum 94 Aerosols, air quality and climate – Yafang Cheng
fertilization – Stephen Galer resolved – Stephan Borrmann
9 Objectives and organization 96 Near-room-temperature superconductivity at high
48 High-resolution microanalysis of biogenic carbonates 82 article filtration efficiency of homemade face masks –
P pressures – Mikhail Eremets
11 Organization chart
for paleoclimate reconstruction – Klaus Peter Jochum a contribution from aerosol science during the COVID-19
98 Quantifying long-term climate change on land –
12 Major collaborations and projects pandemic – Frank Drewnick
50 Unravelling the evolution of the marine carbon Kathryn Fitzsimmons
18 Field measurements and expeditions 2015–2020 and nitrogen cycles across the Cenozoic era – 84 Nano- and microanalytical studies of matter from space
100 Pinpointing NOX emissions from space –
Alfredo Martínez-García and Earth – Peter Hoppe
20 Scientific publications Thomas Wagner
52 An open ocean research program for modern 86 rganic aerosol particles in the tropical upper troposhere –
O
22 Junior Scientist Support
and past climate change – Ralf Schiebel Johannes Schneider
Graduate schools and post doctoral program
102 JOINT SERVICES
54 Novel isotopic measurements in carbonates for 88 Laboratory investigation of turbulence effects on the
24 History
climate reconstruction – Hubert Vonhof accretional growth of graupel – Miklós Szakáll 107 Staff and budget
56 A new home for GEOROC – Bärbel Sarbas 90 In situ observation of new particle formation in regions 108 Glossary
26 ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT of the tropopause in the AMA and the Asian Tropopause
110 Contact and imprint
Aerosol Layer – Ralf Weigel
30 Lifetime of NOX: Chemical processes involving NO3
58 MULTIPHASE CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT
and OH – John Crowley
62 Aerosol analysis and microscopy – Christopher Pöhlker
32 itrogen oxides and their influenceon the oxidation
N
capacity of the troposphere – Horst Fischer 64 Aerosol, cloud and surface interactions – Hang Su
34 OH and HO2 affecting the self cleaning capability 66 Biomolecular analyses and interactions – Janine Fröhlich
of the atmosphere – Hartwig Harder
68 Chemical kinetics and reaction mechanisms –
36 Numerical modeling of atmospheric chemistry – Thomas Berkemeier
Andrea Pozzer
70 Inflammatory processes – Kurt Lucas
38 Volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere –
72 Organic pollutant and exposure – Gerhard Lammel
Jonathan Williams
74 Multiscale interactions and integration – Ulrich Pöschl
40 COVID-19 and air quality – Jos Lelieveld
Cover picture:
Fog rising above the Amazon rainforest near the
ATTO research site. The picture was taken by
Andrew Cozier, standing on the ATTO tower.
MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMISTRY | SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
PREFACE
6 7
BETWEEN CONTINUITY AND oxidation chemistry of the tropical research into the influence of fossil fuel nonetheless several successes to report. however, the station continues to provide Continuity in research, and maintain-
CHANGE atmosphere. and biomass combustion on the compo- While large parts of Europe were put into valuable meteorological, chemical, and ing our status as a leading institution in
sition of the atmosphere, air quality, and lockdown during spring, we performed biological data, including the concentra- Earth system science also means coping
“Change BEFORE continuity” – this Our Institute performs Earth system climate. Public health-related aspects the BLUESKY cross-departmental aircraft tions of greenhouse gases. with leadership change. Two of our direc-
principle of the Max Planck Society research. In addition to the interactions of air pollution are also increasingly the measurement campaign to document at- tors will retire in 2024 and 2025. Plans
was formulated by its President Martin between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, subject of investigation at our Institute, mospheric chemistry in the near-absence The COVID-19 pandemic represented a for a generational change, associated
Stratmann at the “25 Years of Science biosphere, and atmosphere, the influ- in line with the concept of “planetary of air traffic. During the summer, the great challenge for many employees, and with scientific and directional revitaliza-
and Reunification” event five years ago. ence of humans, which has become a health”. S/Y Eugen Seibold carried out impor- especially for young scientists; early- tion, have been initiated early on, both to
significant geological force, has come tant analyses across the North Atlantic career researchers are at our Institute for secure the future of the Institute and to
At the Max Planck Institute for Chem- to the fore. Paul Crutzen’s statement To tackle some of the fundamental Ocean. Furthermore, new research proj- only a limited period of time during which ensure smooth transitions. Our exempla-
istry, the period from 2018 to 2020 has “We are no longer in the Holocene, we research questions, we make use of infra- ects emerged, including a practical one career progress is critical. But then again ry handling of the COVID-19 situation, in
been characterized by scientific conti- are in the Anthropocene”, captures, in a structure that was established within the in which aerosol measurement devices the pandemic also triggered interesting which colleagues have developed innova-
nuity as well as change. With four de- nutshell, the impact of human activity Earth System Partnership by several were used to test the quality of filter adjustments. We learned that research tions in response to restrictions, shows
partments, four independent research on planet Earth. Today, more than two Max Planck Institutes: The German materials of face masks. Some of these is still possible, with one particularly our resilience. Hence, I am confident that
groups, and around 350 employees, decades after Paul coined the term at Climate Computing Center (DKRZ), the projects are described in more detail in fruitful strategy being analysis of the we are well equipped to foster the next
our Institute operates proficiently and a meeting in Mexico, more than 5,000 High Altitude and LOng Range Research the departmental reports. rich datasets that have been collected in generation of excellent Earth system
productively. The Atmospheric Chemis- peer-reviewed scientific articles indexed Aircraft (HALO), three long-term observa- preceding years: teams organized and scientists in the years ahead.
try, Climate Geochemistry, Multiphase in the Web of Science and Scopus have tional stations – the Amazon Tall Tower Without doubt, the pandemic and the met online, conferences took place via
Chemistry, and Particle Chemistry De- addressed the Anthropocene concept. Observatory (ATTO), the Zotino Tall Tower associated lockdowns have left and will web platforms, and seminars were run
partments collaborate closely in many There is no other fundamental concept Observatory Facility (ZOTTO) and the Bar- continue to leave marks. International virtually. It makes me proud to see how
projects and initiatives. One example in the history of science that has spread bados Cloud Observatory (BCO). In 2019, research campaigns that involved exten- quickly our Institute has mastered this
was the successful cross-departmental across disciplines as quickly as that of the research yacht S/Y Eugen Seibold sive preparations had to be postponed, digital change.
CAFE-AFRICA campaign in summer the Anthropocene. became part of this infrastructure in sup- laboratory and service work had to
2018. In this aircraft-based measure- port of climate geochemistry research. be reduced or organized in shifts, and Another notable development in 2020 Jos Lelieveld
ment campaign, MPIC scientists Many of our research groups study numerous planned experiments were has been that Gerald Haug became the Managing Director
investigated the combined influence of themes that involve identifying or quanti Our research in the year 2020 was delayed or cancelled. It also affected the President of the German National Acad- December 2020
natural, anthropogenic, and biomass fying the impacts of humans on the strongly influenced by the COVID-19 work at the ATTO station in Brazil. Since emy of Science, Leopoldina, being a great
burning emissions on the aerosol and Earth system. This includes, for example, pandemic. Scientifically, there are many measurements are automated, honor for him and the institute.
From the left: Christening of the research yacht S/Y Eugen Seibold in 2018, group picture of the Anthropocene Working Group meeting at the MPIC in 2019, From the left: A donation to the Institute - the painting "Fein(d)staub" by Udo Lindenberg, a Fridays for Future message sent from the ATTO site, and research-
research aircraft HALO on the runway during the CAFE-AFRICA campaign 2018. ers onboard the HALO aircraft during the BLUESKY campaign in 2020.
MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMISTRY | SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
ADDENDUM
Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult..
PAUL J. CRUTZEN
* 3.12.1933 † 28.1.2021
The board of directors and the staff of Paul’s scientific work focused on the Paul’s limitless scientific curiosity, his
the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry human influence on the atmosphere, creative ideas, and his charismatic
are mourning the loss of the long-time the climate, and the earth system. He personality have shaped the institute and
director and Nobel laureate in Chemistry, coined the term ‘Anthropocene’, which he many generations of scientists world-
Paul J. Crutzen. He passed away on used to describe the current era in which wide. We have been very honored to
January 28, 2021, at the age of 87—three human activity is profoundly influenc- know and work with Paul, and is death is
weeks after this report was printed. ing global atmospheric, biological, and an irreplaceable loss for us all. He will be
geological processes on our planet. dearly missed.
The Dutchman was Director of the Air
Chemistry Department at our Institute In numerous publications and public Jos Lelieveld
from 1980 to 2000. Together with Mario lectures, Paul discussed the extent to on behalf of the Board of Directors
J. Molina and F. Sherwood Rowland he which mankind exploits the natural
was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chem- resources of planet Earth. He typically Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
istry 1995 for identifying how nitrogen ended presentations with a picture of February 1, 2021
oxides deplete the Earth’s ozone layer himself and his grandson calling on the
and discovering chemical processes that audience to preserve the Earth for future
cause the ozone hole. generations.
Condolences www.mpic.de/4677594/trauer-um-paul-crutzen
OBJECTIVES AND ORGANIZATION
GENERAL 8 9
INFORMATION
THE INSTITUTE
The Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
has a long tradition of multidisciplinary re-
search at the interfaces between chemis-
try, physics, biology, and the geosciences.
Current research at the MPIC focuses
Our goal: a comprehensive scientific understanding of chemical processes on a comprehensive understanding of
in the Earth System. Our methods: ground-based, ship, aircraft and satellite chemical processes in the Earth system,
including the atmosphere, biosphere, and
measurements, laboratory investigations, numerical models. oceans. Investigations address a wide
range of interactions between air, water,
soil, life, and climate over the course
of Earth history up to the Anthropo-
cene – today’s human-driven epoch.
Scientists conduct laboratory experi-
ments and use ground-based obser- Jos Lelieveld, Stephan Borrmann, Ulrich Pöschl and Gerald H. Haug (from left to right).
vatories, vehicles, ships, airplanes, and
satellite instruments to obtain measure-
ment data and collect samples during as the spokes-person of the board of used to support and analyze the field
long-term observations and expeditions. directors and managing director of the measurements. Models are also applied
Mathematical models that simulate Institute. Gerald Haug has been serving to assess the impacts of natural and
chemical, physical, and biological in this position in 2019. Due to his elec- anthropogenic emissions of gases and
processes from molecular to global tion as President of the German National particles on air quality and climate. Jos
scales complement the experimental Academy of Science Leopoldina he Lelieveld holds also a part-time profes-
studies. One of the common themes of handed the office over to Jos Lelieveld sorship at the Cyprus Institute in Nicosia,
research at MPIC is to determine how air in 2020. Cyprus.
pollutants, including reactive trace gases
and aerosols, affect the atmosphere, bio- The Climate Geochemistry Department
sphere, climate, and public health. Other directed by Gerald H. Haug addresses
key topics are the air-sea exchange and DEPARTMENTS climate-ocean-atmosphere processes
biogeochemical cycling of greenhouse and large-scale dynamics in global bio-
gases, oceanic nutrients, and related The Atmospheric Chemistry Depart- geochemical cycles as revealed by sedi-
substances. ment directed by Jos Lelieveld studies mentary and fossil records. To quantify
ozone chemistry and radical reaction the mechanisms and causes of major
At present, the Institute employs some mechanisms, and their role in atmo- changes in Earth’s environmental condi-
350 staff in four departments and spheric oxidation pathways and the tions the department employs a diverse
four additional research groups. Each global cycles of trace compounds. These geochemical toolbox that includes light
department is led by a director who is processes, which are important for the stable isotopes of foraminifera shells
a scientific member of the Max Planck self-cleaning capacity of the atmo- and organic matter, biomarkers, and
Society and has the responsibility of sphere, are studied through laboratory trace metals, as well as high-resolution
defining the scientific objectives and investigations and field measurement non-destructive analytical techniques.
guiding the research of the department. campaigns, in particular with aircraft. Gerald Haug is also President of the
The directors jointly guide the Institute’s Computer models that simulate meteo- German National Academy of Sciences
development and take turns in serving rological and chemical interactions are Leopoldina, since March 2020.
MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMISTRY | SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
ORGANIZATION CHART
10 11
The Multiphase Chemistry Department has been supported by an Advanced SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD Atmospheric Climate Multiphase chemistry Particle chemistry Further research Joint services
directed by Ulrich Pöschl investigates Grant from the European Research Coun- chemistry geochemistry groups
chemical reactions, transport processes, cil and central funds of the Max Planck An international Scientific Advisory Board
and transformations between solid mat- Society. that reports to the President of the Max
ter, liquids, and gases. These processes Planck Society evaluates the Institute’s
are essential for the interplay of the Earth The Terrestrial Palaeoclimates group led research every three years. The Scientific
Jos Lelieveld Gerald H. Haug Ulrich Pöschl Stephan Borrmann
system, climate, life, and public health. by Kathryn Fitzsimmons and supported by Advisory Board consists of internation- Managing Director
Among the focal points are gas-particle the Max Planck Research Group program ally renowned scientists and their evalua-
Kinetics and Isotope Chemical kinetics and Instrumental aerosol Aerosols, air quality Communications
interactions in aerosols and clouds as of the Max Planck Society studies loess tion serves to ensure the appropriate and photochemistry biogeochemistry reaction mechanisms analytics and climate S. Benner
well as the health effects of fine particu- deposits in Eurasia to gather information effective use of the Institute ́s resources. J. Crowley S. Galer T. Berkemeier F. Drewnick Y. Cheng
Administration &
late matter. The applied methods include on past climates. The members are: Optical spectroscopy Paleoclimate research Biomolecular analyses Nano and micro- High pressure technical services
laboratory experiments, field measure- H. Fischer K. Jochum and interactions particle research chemistry and physics –
J. Fröhlich P. Hoppe M. Eremets
ments, and model studies using physical, The Satellite Remote Sensing group led Edouard Bard, Climate and Ocean Evolu-
Radical measurements Organic isotope IT
chemical, and biological techniques. by Thomas Wagner analyzes spectral tion, Collège de France, France H. Harder geochemistry Organic pollutants and Aerosol and cloud Terrestrial T. Disper
A. Martínez-García exposure chemistry palaeoclimates
data obtained from satellite instruments
Atmospheric G. Lammel J. Schneider K. Fitzsimmons Administration
The Particle Chemistry Department is di- that measure the atmospheric absorp- Lucy Carpenter, Department of Chem- modeling Geoscientific I. Lemm
rected by Stephan Borrmann who is also tion of solar radiation, with the goal istry, University of York, York, United A.Pozzer databases Inflammatory Atmospherical Satellite remote
B. Sarbas processes hydrometeors sensing Instrument develop-
a full professor at the Johannes Guten- of retrieving and studying the global Kingdom Organic reactive K. Lucas M. Szakáll, K. Diehl, T. Wagner ment & electronics
berg University of Mainz. Its research distributions of trace gases, aerosols, species Micropaleontology (JGU Mainz) F. Helleis
J. Williams R. Schiebel Aerosol analysis
focuses on the composition and physical and clouds. Maria Kanakidou, Department of Aerosol and cloud
and microscopy Facility management &
properties of micro- and nanoparticles in Chemistry, University of Crete, Herkalion, Inorganic gas isotope C. Pöhlker physics operational technology
geochemistry R. Weigel,
Earth’s environment, and on interactions External Scientific Members Greece (JGU Mainz)
C. Pallien
H. Vonhof Aerosol, cloud and
between atmospheric aerosols, clouds For scientific collaboration and network- surface interactions Junior scientist
and climate. Methodologies employed ing, the Max Planck Society also appoints Markku Kulmala, Institute for Atmo- H. Su support
K. Sulsky
include single and multiple particle mass renowned scientists as external scientific spheric and Earth System Research,
spectrometry in the laboratory and in members. The two external scientific University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Workshops
field measurement campaigns, mostly members currently affiliated with the December 2020 R. Wittkowski
using aircraft. Max Planck Institute for Chemistry are Kimberly Prather, Scripps Institution of
Stuart A. Penkett from the University of Oceanography, University of California
East Anglia, United Kingdom, and Ulrich San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
Platt from the University of Heidelberg,
FURTHER RESEARCH GROUPS Germany. Akkihebbal Ravishankara, Department
of Chemistry, Colorado State University,
The Aerosols, Air Quality and Climate Fort Collins, CO, USA (Chair of the Scien-
group led by Yafang Cheng and sup- tific Advisory Board)
ported by the Minerva program of the
Max Planck Society addresses central Paul Wennberg, California Institute of
questions of environmental research and Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
Earth system science, such as the influ-
ence of soot particles and other aerosols James Zachos, PBSci-Earth & Planetary
on air quality and climate. Science Department, Institute of Marine
Sciences, University of California, Santa
The High Pressure Chemistry and Phys- Cruz, USA
ics group led by Mikhail Eremets studies
matter at extremely high pressures aim-
ing at superconductivity. This research Group picture during the Institute meeting in 2018.
MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMISTRY | SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
MAJOR COLLABORATIONS AND PROJECTS
12 13
The research departments and groups Mainz, the MPI for Meteorology in Ham- ability. Additional, and potentially more HALO AIRCRAFT cation of the contribution of aerosol 2015 – Oxidation Mechanism Observa-
of the Institute collaborate with a large burg, and the MPI for Biogeochemistry in rapid, changes are predicted. To find particles from ground-level sources and tion (OMO)
number of international partners in the Jena. The partnership was renamed the solutions to the challenges posed by To optimize atmospheric research and air traffic pollution, as well as the clarifi- The mission addressed the “self-cleaning
framework of numerous projects. Major Earth and Solar System Research Part- these changes, the ESRP studies the Earth observations, the Institute uses cation of processes in the formation of capacity” of the atmosphere and how
collaborations involving multiple depart- nership in 2017 when the MPI for Solar complex interactions and feedbacks the HALO aircraft, a research aircraft sta- cirrus clouds. natural and anthropogenic compounds
ments and groups are listed below. System Research joined. Among the as- between land, ocean, atmosphere, tioned at the German Aerospace Center are chemically transformed in the upper
Further projects are described in the sociated partners are the MPI for Dynam- biosphere, and humans in the field, in (DLR). The aircraft has a maximum range 2014 – Aerosol, Cloud, Precipitation, and troposphere. The OMO aircraft measure-
departmental and group reports. ics and Self Organization (Göttingen), the the lab, and through numerical models. of 12,000 km, and is able to operate at Radiation Interactions and Dynamics of ment campaign focused on oxidation
MPI for Marine Microbiology (Bremen), For this purpose, the ESRP develops, an altitude of up to 15.5 km. HALO was Convective Cloud Systems (ACRIDICON- processes and air pollution chemistry
the MPI for Terrestrial Microbiology maintains, and utilizes joint research approved for scientific missions in 2012 CHUVA) downwind of South Asia during the sum-
(Marburg), and the Institute for Advanced infrastructures, e.g., the German Climate after eight years of construction and This mission over the Amazon rainforest mer monsoon.
EARTH AND SOLAR SYSTEM Sustainability Studies (Potsdam). Computing Center (DKRZ) for comput- testing. Since then, the MPIC has been in- in Brazil aimed at elucidating aerosol-
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP ing for Earth system science, airborne volved primarily in the scientific missions cloud interactions and their effects on 2017 + 2018 – Effect of Megacities on
The objective of the ESRP is to under- in-situ measurements (HALO research described below. atmospheric dynamics, radiation, and the Transport and Transformation of Pol-
To foster scientific collaboration between stand how planet Earth functions as aircraft), and ground-based long-term precipitation. In particular, the differences lutants on the Regional to Global Scales
the thematically related Max Planck Insti- a complex system and to improve the observations such as the Amazon Tall 2014 – Mid-Latitude-Cirrus (ML-CIRRUS) between unpolluted air and polluted air (EMeRGe)
tutes and associated partners, the Earth predictability of the effects of human Tower Observatory (ATTO), the Barbados The objectives of this mission over as well as the impact of biomass burning This mission addressed the impact
System Research Partnership (ESRP; actions. Over the last century, there have Cloud Observatory (BCO), and the Zotino Europe and the North Atlantic included and other anthropogenic aerosols on the emissions from major population centers
www.earthsystem.de) was established in been marked changes in climate, air Tall Tower Observatory (ZOTTO) in the investigation of the indirect effects of formation and evolution of clouds were have on air pollution at local, regional,
2003 between the MPI for Chemistry in quality, biodiversity, and water avail- Siberian taiga. aerosol on cirrus clouds, the quantifi- studied and quantified. and hemispheric scales. EMeRGe
ESRP meeting in Göttingen in 2018.
MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMISTRY | SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
14 15
conducted dedicated airborne measure- oxidation capacity over the tropical and Further missions of the HALO aircraft in AMAZON TALL TOWER OBSERVA- the central Amazon Basin, about 150 km
ment campaigns, as well as coupled South Atlantic Ocean. which the MPIC is involved as a leading TORY (ATTO) northeast of the city of Manaus, Brazil.
interpretation and modeling studies or contributing institution are planned: Two 80-m towers have been operated
primarily of short-lived climate pollutants 2020 – BLUESKY The Amazon Basin plays a key role in the at the site since 2012, and a 325-m-tall
(i.e., reactive gases, temporary reservoirs, The aim of the research mission 2021 – Formation, Lifetime, Properties carbon and water cycles, climate change, tower was completed in 2015. The ATTO
and aerosol particles). The first part of BLUESKY was to investigate how and Radiative Impact of High-Latitude atmospheric chemistry, and biodiversity. project is a Brazilian-German collabora-
the campaign was conducted in summer reduced emissions from industry and Cirrus Clouds (CIRRUS-HL). It is affected by human activities, and tion between the Instituto Nacional de
2017 with flights over Europe. The sec- transport during the COVID-19 lockdown more pervasive change is expected to Pesquisas da Amazonia (INPA), the
ond part operated flights over Asia and are changing atmospheric chemistry 2022 – Chemistry of the Atmosphere: occur in the future. Thus, it is essential to Universidade do Estado do Amazonas
was conducted in 2018. and physics. Together with scientists Field Experiment in Brazil (CAFE-BRAZIL) establish long-term measurements that (UEA), the Max Planck Society (MPG),
from the DLR and the Goethe University Operating the HALO aircraft from provide a baseline record of present- and further research partners. On the
2018 – Chemistry of the Atmosphere: Frankfurt, the MPIC measured concentra- Manaus, this mission will study tro- day climatic, biogeochemical, and German side, the project was initiated
Field Experiment in Africa (CAFE-AFRICA) tions of trace gases and pollutants in the pospheric oxidant photochemistry in atmospheric conditions and to continue and established by the MPIC, and it con-
The main objective of the CAFE-AFRICA air over European urban areas and in the combination with particle formation and to monitor changes in the Amazon tinues to be coordinated in collaboration
mission, conducted in August and Sep- flight corridor to North America. growth mechanisms under pristine con- region related to global change and the between the MPI for Biogeochemistry
tember 2018, was to study the influence ditions found over the Amazon rainforest. Anthropocene, the current era of globally and the MPIC.
of the massive biomass burning emis- Originally, this mission was planned for pervasive and steeply increasing human
sions from southern Africa, combined spring 2020 but had to be postponed due influence on planet Earth. The Amazon
with growing industrial, urban and desert to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO) has been
dust emissions, on the atmospheric set up in a pristine rainforest region in
MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMISTRY | SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
16 17
S/Y EUGEN SEIBOLD EMME-CARE
The S/Y Eugen Seibold is a modern The Eastern Mediterranean Middle
research yacht that has been operated East – Climate and Atmosphere Re-
by the MPI for Chemistry since 2018. search Center (EMME-CARE) project was
It aims at sampling and analyzing sea established with the goal of creating a
water, plankton, and air samples in order regional center of excellence for climate
to better understand the interactions and atmospheric research in the Eastern
between the ocean and the atmosphere. Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME)
The S/Y Eugen Seibold team success- region, which has been identified as a
fully carried out 16 scientific expeditions global climate change hotspot. Opened
in spring and summer 2019. In 2020, in 2019 and affiliated with the Cyprus
a north-to-south transect was probed Institute in Nicosia, it focusses on the
in the eastern North Atlantic starting causes and effects of climate change
from the polar circle and reaching as in the area, and developing regional
far south as the equator, comprising research networks, and mitigation and
a wide range of marine provinces and adaptation solutions.
environmental conditions. The yacht
was financed by the Werner Siemens The Climate and Atmosphere Research
Foundation, Switzerland. Center (CARE-C) of the Cyprus Insti-
tute, which has been established in this
long-term project, is steered by the MPI
for Chemistry, which together with the
French Commissariat à l’Energie Atom-
ique (CEA) and the University of Helsinki,
Finland, constitute the Advanced Part-
ners in the EMME-CARE project.MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMISTRY | SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND EXPEDITIONS
2015–2020
18 19
(AC)3 - ACLOUD 2017
MOSAiC 2019
CINDI-2 2016 NOTOMO 2015 Mass spectrometer measure-
ments on clouds and aerosols
for a better understanding of the
TERRACLIME 2017, 2018
Arctic climate. Central Arctic.
Investigation of Rhine
valley loess deposits in
S/Y Eugen Seibold continuous four dimensions.
MoLa Kiruna LKAB 2015 + 2016 Fanshan 2019
Collecting ocean water, plank- Germany
ton and air samples. Atlantic, Chinese Academy of Sciences-
from Madeira to the Artic INUIT-JFJ/CLACE 2017 IBAIRN 2016 ZOTTO continuous MPIC collaboration investigating
Ocean and the Caribbean. long-term climate change near
Zotino Tall Tower Beijing. China.
HALO EMeRGe EU 2017
Observatory. Russia.
RV Maria S. Merian Cruise 58 2016 HALO ML-CIRRUS 2014 NOPAH16 2016 Kazakhstan 2017, 2018, 2019
AROMAPEX 2016 Winter haze 2016
Loess sampling in Central
HALO BLUESKY 2020 AROMAT-2 2015 Asia. Kazakhstan. ALTAI EXPEDITION 2016 / 2017 20172
INTERCOMPARISON 2015
Influence of the Corona lockdown
on the atmosphere. Europe and the McFAN 2018 – 2020
flight corridor to North America. MoLa ATLAS 2019
StratoClim 2016 Multiphase chemistry experi-
Influence of air masses of Tajikistan 2018, 2019 ment in Fogs and Aerosols in
RV Armstrong Cruise AR23-01 2017 the Sahara, Atlantik and
INUIT-BACCHUS-ACTRIS 2016 Loess sampling in the North China Plain. Gucheng.
Europe on the air composi- Xingtai 2016
tion in the Atlas Mountains. Central Asia. Tajikistan
HALO CAFE-AFRICA 2018
RV Meteor 2015 Atlas Mountains, Marocco.
Atmospheric effects of HALO EMeRGe Asia 2018
Pakistan 1+2 2015 + 2017 StratoClim 2017
biomass burning in Africa AABC 2016 Effect of megacities on
EUREC4A 2020 over the tropical and
the transport and trans-
subtropical Atlantic. South
formation of pollutants
Field Study, interplay Atlantic and West Africa. RV Maria S. Merian 2017 on regional and global
between clouds, convection scales. Taiwan.
and circulation and their
OMAN 2016
role in climate change. Shelf
oceans east of Barbados
DACCIWA 2016
AQABA 2017 HALO OMO 2015
Barbados continuous
IAGOS CARIBIC flights continuous
Aerosols & Cloud
Condenstation Nuclei. Civil Aircraft for the Regular Investi-
Barbados. gation of the atmosphere Based on
an Instrument Container. RV Meteor 2019
Munich based. ICDPDeepCHALLA 2016
Persistent organic
ATTO continuous
pollutants, PAHs and deri-
Amazonian Tall vatives in trade winds' for
Tower Observatory. N-S transects. Canaries
Brazil, near Manaus. to WalvisBay/Namibia.
Research aircraft The Institute pursues a wide range
of field measurements and expedi-
RV Sonne 2017 / 2018 Research vessel tions in various regions around the
globe and by using aircrafts, ships,
Max-DOAS measure- FAIRY CIRCLES 2017
Research vehicle vehicles and stationary platforms.
ments on trace gases Campaigns from the period
RV Meteor 2016
and aerosols. Germany Field station
South Africa 2017 2018 – 2020 are marked in full
to Argentina.
colors, campaigns in 2015 – 2017
Civil aircraft are shown as titles only.MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMISTRY | SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
20 21
PUBLICATION STATISTICS Max Planck Institute for Chemistry – Subjects 2003, has been signed by over 650 lead- and several countries have managed to Biogeosciences (BG) since 2004; and
Web of Science subject categories 2014-2019
The results of the fundamental scien- ing scholarly organizations around the establish open access to large frac- Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
tific research conducted at the Institute world, and continues to attract further tions of their publication output (up to (AMT) as well as Geoscientific Model
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
are mainly published in peer-reviewed Enviromental Sciences
signatories. ~ 80 %).** Development (GMD) since 2008.**
scientific journals. From 2009 to 2019, Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
2,270 peer-reviewed journal articles and Geochemistry & Geophysics The international initiative „Open Access Already before the Berlin Declara- Through these and related activities,
Multidisciplinary Sciences
reviews were published at the MPIC; on 2020“ (OA2020) aims to transform exist- tion on Open Access, the MPIC and the Institute indeed continues to serve
Ecology
average, 206 publications per annum. Geography, Physical ing scholarly journals from subscription its researchers were pioneers in the as a pace-maker for open science for
According to Web of Science, nearly 65 % Chemistry, Physical to open access publishing in a smooth, foundation and successful development the benefit of scientific and societal
Engineering, Enviromental
of the total set are Open Access papers. swift and scholarly oriented way. of innovative forms of open access pub- progress.
Oceanography
Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical
lishing. Since the year 2001, scientists
Through the end of 2019, MPIC-authored Chemistry, Multidisciplinary Since its release in 2016, the OA2020 from the MPIC have led the way in the
publications from 2009 to 2017 were Chemistry, Analytical
Expression of Interest in the „Large- conception, development, and applica-
Paleontology
cited 72,553 times. This is an average Astronomy & Astrophysics
scale Implementation of Open Access tion of interactive open access publish-
of 40.4 citations per paper, an increase to Scholarly Journals“ has been signed ing with public peer review, which is now
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
of about 20 % compared to an average Number of articles 2014-2019
by over 140 scholarly organizations – in- also spreading across other fields in the
of 33.7 citations per paper in the years cluding the Alliance of Science Organi- sciences and humanities. The publication list of the Institute is available
2006 to 2016.* Figure 1: Most frequent Web of Science (WoS) subject categories of the journals in which the MPI for zations in Germany, the European Uni- at https://www.mpic.de/Publikationen
Chemistry published during the time span from 2014 – 2019. versity Association representing more In fact, some of the very first and most
**
he bibliometric data are taken from the
T
Between 2009 and 2017, the Institute than 800 universities in 47 countries and successful international open access
report “A bibliometric analysis of the MPI for
published papers that belong, on aver- other major organizations in Europe, journals have been founded and grown Chemistry, in the publication period 2009–
age, to the top fourth (27.3 %) most cited Asia, and the Americas. Through trans- to top visibility and scientific reputation 2019" by Thomas Scheidsteger and Robin
papers within their subject categories. the average of the Chemistry, Physics OPEN ACCESS formative agreements with traditional under the aegis of researchers at the Haunschild, Max Planck Society, Information
Retrieval Services.
A value of 50 % represents the median and Technology Section (CPTS) of the The Max Planck Society and the Max publishers as well as support for new MPIC engaged in the European Geo
and thus an average citation impact Max Planck Society. Planck Institute for Chemistry are among and improved open access publishing sciences Union (EGU): Atmospheric **
or more information see www.mpic.
F
compared to all publications from the the leading proponents of open access platforms, the MPG, other institutions, Chemistry and Physics (ACP) since 2001; de/4123205/open-access.
same subject areas and publication In summary, the metrics used to mea- to scientific publications and scholarly
years. Thus, the MPIC citation impact sure normalized citation impact show knowledge. Since the year 2003, the Max
is far above the average of the relevant that the MPIC has a very high impact. Planck Society is hosting and support-
Max Planck Society – Open Access Max Planck Institute for Chemistry – Open Access
scientific community. Moreover, individual Institute members ing a series of international meetings, access categories open access categories
have been ranked repeatedly as “Highly the “Berlin Open Access Conferences”, 250
Approximately one quarter (23.6 %) of Cited Researchers”. A comprehensive which are dedicated to the promotion 12000
the MPIC papers belong to the 10 % listing of scientific publications during of open access and yielded some of the 10000
200
Number of publications
Number of publications
most cited papers within their subject the past decades is available on Insti- key statements and developments in the
gold OA
150
categories. In 21 out of 28 relevant tute’s web pages (http://www.mpic.de/ global move to open access. From the 8000
gold OA
subject categories, the Institute has en/research/publications.html), further beginning, MPIC scientists have been 6000
hybrid OA
hybrid OA? 100
achieved a subject-based observed-to- information and citation statistics are actively involved in this development and hybrid OA
4000
expected citation ratio far above the in- provided on the web pages of individual continue to play a leading role. green OA
green OA
50
ternational standard of the correspond- researchers (Researcher ID, Google 2000 unknown ta other
ta other
ing field (>1.5). The MPIC citation impact Scholar, etc.), and selected highlight stud- The “Berlin Declaration on Open Access ta big 3
ta big 3
0 0
is significantly higher than the country ies have also been advertised in press to Knowledge in the Sciences and 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020
publication year publication year
averages of Germany and the United releases (https://www.mpic.de/3538502/ Humanities” (https://openaccess.mpg.
States of America, and also higher than press-releases). de/Berlin-Declaration) was issued in Figure 2: Publication output by open access (OA) categories for the entire Max Planck Society (left) and for the MPIC (right). Orange: gold OA, yellow: hybrid
OA, green: green OA, light gray: toll access publications by various publishers, dark gray: toll access publications by one of the “big 3” publishers Elsevier,
Springer Nature, and Wiley.MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMISTRY | SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
JUNIOR SCIENTIST SUPPORT: GRADUATE SCHOOLS
AND POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAM
22 23
The support of junior scientists is of ma- The Graduate School coordinator can be POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAM
jor importance for the MPIC. Besides two addressed at any time on any issue, and The postdoctoral period is a very chal-
graduate schools for PhD students – the as an impartial and trustworthy partner, lenging time for every young scientist,
Paul Crutzen Graduate School (PCGS) is ready to support the PhD students and not least because of the effort required
and the Max Planck Graduate Center help pursue their interests. to handle professional and private lives.
(MPGC) – a postdoctoral program was Thus, a postdoctoral program compara-
established in 2018. Currently, 62 students, 29 of them female ble to the PhD program was established
and 33 male from 13 countries, are to give these scientists the best possible
PAUL CRUTZEN GRADUATE enrolled in the PCGS.* support during their stay at the Institute
SCHOOL (PCGS) and to prepare them for their future ca-
To give them the best possible support MAX PLANCK GRADUATE CENTER reers, either within or outside academia.
during their stay at the Institute, all PhD (MPGC) The postdoctoral program provides soft
students affiliated with the MPIC are au- The MPGC is a cross-institutional gradu- skill courses, career counselling and ca-
tomatically members of the Paul Crutzen ate school of the MPIC, the Max Planck reer training, and individual coaching and
Graduate School (PCGS). Institute for Polymer Research, and fosters networking within and outside
four departments of the JGU in Mainz: the Institute. The program is coordinated
Each PhD student has an individual PhD Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, by a central contact person who protects
Advisory Committee (PAC) with experts Geography and Geosciences; Physics, the confidentiality of the postdocs.
from the Institute as well as from out- Mathematics and Computer Science; Furthermore, the Institute also provides
side institutions such as the Johannes Biology; and University Medicine. Since support with child/family care.
Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). The 2019, the former Graduate School of
committee monitors the progress of the Excellence Material Science in Mainz of GUEST PROGRAM AT THE MPIC
dissertation project and gives not only the JGU is affiliated with the MPGC. The Guest Program represents a straight-
scientific support but also recommen- forward tool for granting scholarships
dations on further skills that should be The MPGC is especially pertinent for to scientists who visit the Institute for a
acquired for graduation and a successful PhD students with an interdisciplinary limited period of time (PhD students up
career. research project and supervisors from to six months; postdocs up to two years),
different institutions and faculties. To either to engage in ongoing research
Within the graduate school, various make it more accessible for international projects of the MPIC or to use the
lectures in atmospheric environmental PhD students with diverse scientific back- infrastructure and expertise for their own
and climate sciences, soft skill courses, grounds, the MPGC has its own doctoral research projects. The uncomplicated
language classes, and extracurricular regulations to overcome the limitations application and admission process of the
and social activities are offered. The imposed by traditional faculty rules of Guest Program is an important, flexible
curriculum is adapted to the individual the university. International PhD students tool to enhance scientific exchange and
needs of each doctoral student. A are welcome to invite experts from their to expand collaborations. Participants
course in atmospheric chemistry as a home university to become a member of the Guest Program are included in the
core research topic of the Institute is of the supervision committee, thereby fur- regular PhD or Postdoc procedures and
mandatory as well as a course on good ther fostering international cooperation. receive the same support as all other
scientific practice. MPIC members.
The monitoring system of the MPGC and
PhD students are supported in organiz- the curriculum is analogous to the PCGS.
ing their own seminars and conferences, 11 PhD students from the MPIC are cur-
such as the Paul Crutzen Days – an rently members of the MPGC. (In total,
annual conference organized by and for 74 PhD students belong to the MPGC; 29
the PhD students. are female, 45 are male and 12 different
nationalities are represented)*. *
December 2020MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMISTRY | SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
HISTORY
Richard Willstätter Josef Mattauch Heinrich Alfred Klemm Meinrat O. Andreae Stephan Borrmann Ulrich Pöschl
S 1912 – 1916 S 1941 – 1965 Hintenberger S 1958 – 1981 S + D 1987 – 2017 S + D since 2001 S + D since 2012
E 1927 – 1937 D 1947 – 1965 S 1956 – 1978 24 25
D 1959 – 1978
H. Otto Wieland Physical Chemistry Multiphase Chemistry
S 1917 – 1918
Mass Spectrometry Particle Chemistry
Physical Department und Mass Spectrometry Biogeochemistry
Kurt Hess Christian Junge Paul J. Crutzen Johannes Lelieveld
S 1921 – 1930 S + D 1968 – 1978 S 1978 – 2000 S + D since 2000
E 1931 – 1949 D 1980 – 2000
Organic Organic
Chemistry Chemistry
Organic Chemistry Air Chemistry Atmospheric Chemistry Atmospheric Chemistry
1912 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
Nuclear Physics Nuclear Physics Geochemistry Climate Geochemistry
Lise Meitner Hermann Wäffler Albrecht Hofmann Gerald H. Haug
S 1913 – 1938 S 1954 – 1978 S + D 1980 – 2007 S + D since 2015
E 1948 – 1968
Radiochemistry Radiochemistry Isotope Cosmology
Otto Hahn Fritz Straßmann Friedrich Begemann
S 1912 – 1960 S 1946 – 1953 S 1969 – 1995
D 1928 – 1946 D 1977 – 1995
Radio- and
Cosmochemistry
Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Cosmochemistry Cosmochemistry
Inorganic Chemistry Friedrich A. Heinrich Wänke Günter Lugmair
Paneth S 1963 – 1996 S + D 1996 – 2005
Alfred Stock
S 1954 – 1958 D 1969 – 1996
S 1915 – 1926
D 1953 – 1958
D 1921 – 1926
Theoretical Physics Theoretical Nuclear Physics
Ernst Otto Beckmann Ludwig Waldmann Herrmann Kümmel Time chart of the Institute’s scientific members (S),
S 1912 – 1923 S 1954 – 1963 S 1964 – 1969 directors (D) and main research directions. The bars
D 1912 – 1921
indicate periods of tenure at the Institute; sometimes
followed by external scientific membership (E).
Research at the Max Planck Institute The research departments and focal As the Institute was severely dam- Institute for Chemistry. Since 1959 the were studied and the interplay of atmo- Nowadays, the research focus of the
for Chemistry has been at the forefront points of the Institute have gone aged towards the end of World War Institute also carries the name “Otto spheric gases, particles and meteorol- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry is
of science throughout its existence. through a history of change and scien- II it was moved to the Swabian Alp in Hahn Institute” in honor of its previous ogy were investigated. In the 1980s on Earth System science, in particular
Since the Institute’s foundation in 1912, tific evolution as illustrated in the time today’s Baden-Wuerttemberg. There director and the first president of the new departments for Geochemistry and on the chemical processes occurring
three of its directors were awarded with chart above. What began in 1912 with the chemists worked provisionally from Max Planck Society. Biogeochemistry were founded, in 2001 in the atmosphere and their interac-
the Nobel Prize for Chemistry: Richard classical organic, inorganic and physical 1944 to 1949 until the Institute moved a the Particle Chemistry Department was tions with the biosphere and oceans. It
Willstätter in 1915 for the revelation of chemistry at the Kaiser Wilhelm Insti- second time to the campus of the newly In the 1960s and 1970s the Institute’s established jointly with the Institute for also includes the influence of humans,
the structure of chlorophyll and other tute for Chemistry in Berlin evolved into founded Johannes Gutenberg Univer- research portfolio was extended from Atmospheric Physics at the Johannes as unprecedented urbanization and
plant pigments, Otto Hahn in 1944 for radiochemistry and nuclear physics in sity in Mainz. At the same time it was Physical Chemistry, Nuclear Physics and Gutenberg University of Mainz, in 2012 industrialization in the past centuries
the discovery of nuclear fission, and the 1930s, leading to the discovery of integrated into the Max Planck Society, Mass Spectrometry to Cosmochemistry, the Multiphase Chemistry Department, have changed the course of natural pro-
Paul Crutzen in 1995 for the elucidation nuclear fission by Otto Hahn, Lise Meit- the successor of the Kaiser Wilhelm So- Isotope Cosmology and Air Chemistry. and in 2015 the Climate Geochemistry cesses on our planet, in an epoch now
of atmospheric ozone chemistry. ner and Fritz Strassmann. ciety, and reopened as the Max Planck Meteorites and moon dust samples Department was founded. known as the Anthropocene.ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY Self-cleaning capacity of the atmosphere. Photochemistry, oxidation mechanisms, transport processes and climate effects of trace gases and aerosol particles.
MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMISTRY | SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
DEPARTMENT JOS LELIEVELD
28 29
"PHOTOCHEMICAL PROCESSING phenomenon. Our department studies try of nitrogen oxides, for example. Jona- ments, two settings in which VOCs SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
OF THE AIR" the chemical mechanisms that “process” than Williams’s group uses mass spectro can have very different character- Lelieveld, J., Crutzen, P. J., Andreae, M. O.,
OXIDATION REACTIONS CLEANSE the emissions from local to global scales. metric techniques to measure organic istics. The VOC isoprene, released Brenninkmeijer, C. A. M., Campos, T., Cass,
THE ATMOSPHERE FROM NATU- compounds and their reaction products. by the canopy, dominates tropical G. R. Dickerson, R. R., Fischer, H., de Gouw,
J. A., Hansel, Jefferson, A., Kley, D., de Laat,
RAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC POL- The department employs instrumented The group led by Andrea Pozzer develops rainforest emissions, while monoter-
A. T. J., Lal, S., Lawrence, M. G., Lobert, M.
LUTANTS mobile platforms such as aircraft and local-to-regional and global models to penes are more typical for the boreal J., Mayol-Bracero, O. L., Mitra, A. P., Oltmans,
ships, as well as ground-based stations, analyse the measurement data. environment. Isoprene and monoter- S. J., Prather, K. A., Reiner, T., Rodhe, H.,
The atmosphere removes millions of to gain insights into interdependencies penes can react with ozone, forming Scheeren, H. A., Sikka, D., Williams, J.: The
Indian Ocean Experiment: Widespread air
tons of natural and anthropogenic between emissions, chemical transfor- Results show how the atmosphere particles, and also generate radicals
pollution from South and South-East Asia.
pollutant emissions each year through mations, and atmospheric transport. Our regulates concentrations of OH and that contribute to the reactivity of the Science, 291, 1031-1036, doi:10.1126/sci-
oxidation reactions. This self-cleansing custom-built instrumentation measures other oxidants and reveal to what extent forest air. Among various reaction ence.1057103 (2001).
mechanism profoundly changes the many reactive species and their reaction reactive gases alter the properties of products, Criegee intermediates,
Lelieveld, J., Berresheim, H. Borrmann,
characteristics of the emitted species products, and the wealth of data ob- other species, including aerosols such predicted by laboratory and model-
S. Crutzen, P. J. Dentener, F. J. Fischer,
such as reduced and partly oxidized tained helps improve computer models as dust, organic and sea spray particles. ing studies, have long been enig- H., Feichter, J., Flatau, P. J., Heland, J.,
gases. Most gases react with radicals, that simulate air quality and climate. The chemical “processing” of aerosols matic. We have now measured these Holzinger, R. Korrmann, R., Lawrence, M. G.,
predominantly hydroxyl (OH), which affects their lifetime and, in turn, the intermediates in boreal ecosystems 25 July 1955 Born in The Hague, The Levin, Z., Markowicz, K. M., Mihalopoulos,
N., Minikin, A., Ramanathan, V., de Reus,
results in less volatile and more soluble The group led by Hartwig Harder uses properties of clouds, climate, nutrient and evaluated their role in atmo- Netherlands
M., Roelofs, G. J., Scheeren, H. A., Sciare,
products that can be removed by pre- laser-based fluorescence techniques to cycles, and public health. The latter is an spheric chemistry. In the tropics, we J., Schlager, H., Schultz, M., Siegmund, P.,
cipitation and deposition onto the Earth’s measure highly reactive gases, includ- emerging area of focus in our depart- uncovered a hitherto unknown, large 1984 Study of natural sciences at Leiden Steil, B., Stephanou, E. G., Stier, P., Traub, M.,
surface. During oxidation reactions, sec- ing radicals. The group of Horst Fischer ment on which we collaborate with source of sesquiterpenes from soils. University Warneke, C., Williams, J., Ziereis, H.: Global
air pollution crossroads over the Mediter-
ondary pollutants can be formed, which uses optical detection and wet-chemical groups in epidemiological and biomedi-
ranean. Science, 298, 794-799, doi:10.1126/
diminish air quality and contribute to methods to measure primary emissions cal sciences. In the past years, we instrumented 1984 – 1987 Research associate at science.1075457 (2002).
climate change. Fine particulate matter and atmospheric reaction intermediates, the High Altitude and LOng Range Geosens B.V.
and ozone, for example, have atmospher- such as aldehydes and peroxides. The The department studies natural volatile Research Aircraft (HALO), which Lelieveld, J., Butler, T. M., Crowley, J.N., Dil-
lon, T. J., Fischer, H., Ganzeveld, L., Harder,
ic lifetimes of up to several weeks and group led by John Crowley uses laser- organic compounds (VOCs) that are was first deployed on a mission that 1987 – 1993 Research scientist at the
H., Lawrence, M. G., Martinez, M., Tarabor-
can be transported over large distances. cavity methods and chemical ionization released in vast amounts by vegetation. measured the outflow of deep con- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry relli D., Williams, J.: Atmospheric oxidation
Thus, air pollution is not merely a local mass spectrometry to study the chemis- We compare tropical with boreal environ- vective clouds during the wet season capacity sustained by a forest. Nature, 452,
in South Asia. The data revealed that 1990 PhD in Physics and Astronomy 737-740, doi:10.1038/nature06870 (2008).
the summer monsoon sustains an Utrecht University
Lelieveld, J., Evans, J. S., Fnais, M Gianna-
effective cleansing mechanism that dak D., Pozzer, A.: The contribution of
removes pollutants. However, some 1993 – 2000 Professor of Atmospheric outdoor air pollution sources to premature
species remain and are lofted above Physics and Chemistry University of mortality on a global scale. Nature, 525,
367-371, doi:10.1038/nature15371 (2015).
the clouds to reach the stratosphere. Wageningen and Utrecht
HALO missions that started in 2018 Lelieveld, J., Bourtsoukidis, E., Brühl, C.,
under the name “Chemistry of the At- since 2000 Director at the Max Planck Fischer, H., Fuchs, H., Harder, H., Hofzuma-
mosphere – Field Experiment” (CAFE) Institute for Chemistry and Scientific haus, A., Holland, F., Pozzer, A., Schlager, H.,
Williams, J., Zahn, A., Ziereis, H.: The South
aim to chemically characterize the Member of the Max Planck Society
Asian monsoon – pollution pump and
tropical atmosphere over Africa, purifier. Science, 361, 270-273, doi:10.1126/
South America, and the Atlantic and Professor in Atmospheric Physics, science.aar2501 (2018).
Pacific Oceans. In spring 2020, dur- University of Mainz, and Professor at the
ing the COVID-19 lockdowns, we per- Cyprus Institute, Nicosia
formed an additional HALO mission
over Europe to study the impacts of
the major declines in emissions from
Figure 1: In many cities air quality is poor, but via chemical and transport processes anthropogenic emissions influence the atmosphere on a much larger
scale, being documented by our measurements. The department investigates how pollutants interact with natural emissions, and to what extent they change land and air traffic on atmospheric
the global atmosphere and climate. chemistry and the climate.MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMISTRY | SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2018–2020
"In situ observation combined
with laboratory studies provide
insight into the chemical pro-
LIFETIME OF NOX: cesses that define atmospheric
composition from the boundary
CHEMICAL PROCESSES INVOLVING NO3 AND OH layer to the lower stratosphere."
JOHN CROWLEY 30 31
trated in Figure 3 A. For most regions we trace gases associated with ship emis- SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
found that, on average, NOX (40–50 %) and sions and/or oil-related activities) so that Amedro, D., Bunkan, A. J. C., Berasategui, M.,
HNO3 (30–40 %) accounted for the majority formation of ClNO2 was suppressed. The Crowley, J. N.: Kinetics of the OH+NO2 reaction:
of NOY with smaller contributions from regional variation in the ClNO2 production rate coefficients (217–333 K, 16–1200 mbar)
and fall-off parameters for N2 and O2 bath
particle nitrate and organic nitrates. This is efficiency (per NO3 formed) is illustrated
gases. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 10643-10657,
related to the high temperatures encoun- in Figure 3 B. The very low yields of ClNO2 doi:10.5194/acp-19-10643-2019 (2019).
tered during the journey, which partitioned observed in the Arabian Gulf are a result of
Multi-channel Cavity-Ring-Down Spectroscopy for NO2, NO3, N2O5 and organic nitrates.
HNO3 to the gas-phase and shortened very high nighttime temperatures (~ 30 °C) Amedro, D., Berasategui, M., Bunkan, A. J. C.,
Pozzer, A., Lelieveld, J., Crowley, J. N.: Kinet-
the lifetime of PAN. Our measurements that result in short lifetimes for N2O5 and
ics of the OH+NO2 reaction: effect of water
of NO3, N2O5, and ClNO2 (the latter using a large concentrations of reactive organics vapour and new parameterization for global
INTRODUCTION (especially in the lower stratosphere) Torr), are highly precise and enable the chemical ionization mass-spectrometer) (from on- and off-shore oil-related activi- modelling. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 3091-3105,
The rate and nature of the chemical and both organic (RNOX) and particulate third-body quenching efficiency of H2O also indicated that, at night, the heteroge- ties) that react with NO3. Indeed, the short doi:10.5194/acp-20-3091-2020 (2020).
processing of pollutant emissions of nitrate (NO3-) in the boundary layer, the to be established for the first time. The neous loss of NOX via the formation and lifetime of NO3 throughout much of
Berasategui, M., Amedro, D., Edtbauer, A., Wil-
NO into the atmosphere has a strong latter formed, e.g., by the uptake of N2O5 influence of H2O on the rate coefficient is uptake into aqueous aerosol of N2O5 was AQABA resulted in nocturnal losses of NOX liams, J., Lelieveld, J., Crowley, J. N.: Kinetic
influence on, e.g., photochemical ozone into aqueous particles (Figure 1). illustrated in Figure 2 A and indicates that less important than routes involving gas- that competed with the daytime reaction and mechanistic study of the reaction between
and particle formation and the atmo- the contribution of collisional quenching phase reactions of NO3 (e.g. with DMS or of OH with NO2. methane sulfonamide (CH3S(O)2NH2) and
OH. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 2695-2707,
spheric oxidation capacity. NO, formed by RESULTS by H2O to the rate coefficient in humid,
doi:10.5194/acp-20-2695-2020 (2020).
bacterial activity in soils, lightning and in The reaction of NO2 with OH is the most tropical regions is approximately equal
A NOZ/NOY
combustive systems related to biomass important process by which NOX is lost to that of O2 and decreases the lifetime k1 (without H2O) / k1 (with H2O) A
45 1.0 Eger, P. G., Friedrich, N., Schuladen, J.,
1.00
80°N Shenolikar, J., Fischer, H., Tadic, I., Harder, H.,
burning and anthropogenic activity, is on a global scale, yet different expert of NO2 by about 10 %. A parameterization 0.99
0.8
0.6 Martinez, M., Rohloff, R., Tauer, S., Drewnick,
oxidized to NO2, which together with NO evaluation panels have reported divergent of the rate coefficient based on our data 0.98 40
0.4
40°N 0.97
M6
M5 F., Fachinger, F., Brooks, J., Darbyshire, E.,
forms the NOX family (NOX NO + NO2). parameters for the rate coefficient. We was incorporated into a global chemical 0.2
Latitude (°)
0.96 M3 M2 Sciare, J., Pikridas, M., Lelieveld, J., Crowley, J.
35
The loss of NOX to generate NOY (total have re-examined the rate coefficient for transport model to show, e.g., that use 0° 0.95
M4 M1 N.: Shipborne measurements of ClNO2 in the
reactive nitrogen) proceeds mainly by the this pressure-, temperature-, and bath of the IUPAC recommendation results in 0.94 Mediterranean Sea and around the Arabian
ONs pNit
30 Peninsula during summer. Atmos. Chem. Phys.,
0.93
sequential oxidation of NO2 throughout gas-dependent reaction using the pulsed underestimation of the HNO3/NO2 ratio 40°S
0.92 NOX 19, 12121-12140, doi:10.5194/acp-19-12121-
the diel cycle, which is initiated by reac- laser photolysis technique combined with by as much as a factor of 1.3 in the lower 0.91 25
HNO3
2019 (2019).
80°S 10 20 30
tions involving OH radicals (mainly during two-fold absorption spectroscopy (broad- stratosphere (Figure 2 B). 0.90 Longitude (°)
180° 120°W60°W 0° 60°E 120°E 180°
daytime) and NO3 radicals (mainly at band and 365 nm) for measurement of During the “Air Quality and climate change Friedrich, N., Tadic, I., Schuladen, J., Brooks,
B HNO3/NO2(IUPAC) / HNO3/NO2 (This work) B
J., Darbyshire, E., Drewnick, F., Fischer, H.,
night). The difference between NOY and NO2 and laser-induced fluorescence for in the Arabian Basin” (AQABA) project we 1
45 1.3 40 Lelieveld, J., Crowley, J. N.: Measurement of
NOX is defined as NOZ (NOZ NOY – NOX). OH. Our data, which cover a substantial deployed three instruments on a ship to 40
1.25
NOX and NOY with a thermal dissociation cavity
Pressure [hPa]
1.2 35 Med. Sea
Pressure altitude [km]
Two major contributors to NOZ are HNO3 fraction of the fall-off regime (10–700 investigate the (inter)conversion of NOX 10
35 1.15
30
Gulf of ring-down spectrometer (TD-CRDS): instru-
Latitude [°N]
30 1.1 ε [%] Suez Oman
to NOY along a route through the Mediter- 1.05 Arab. Gulf ment characterisation and first deployment.
25 25 6.0
1.00 3.0 Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 13(10),
ranean Sea, the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, 0.95 20 1.5 Red Sea
RNOX
20 5739-5761, doi:10.5194/amt-13-5739-2020
0.9 1st leg
the Arabian Sea, and the Arabian Gulf. 100 15 0.85 15 2ndleg Arab. Sea (2020).
0.8 high p(NO3)
Combining results from a newly built ther- 10 10
>=< 5
0.75 low p(NO3) Gulf of Aden
RO2 O3 mal dissociation cavity ring-down spectro
1000 0
0.7 10 20 30 40 50 60
NO NO2 NO3 N2O5 ClNO2
Longitude [°E]
meter (TD-CRDS) for NOX and NOY with 80°S 40°S 0° 40°N 80°N
O3 those from a five-channel TD-CRDS instru-
DMS H2O Cl- ment set up to measure NO2, NO3, N2O5,
Figure 2: A) Relative change in the rate coef- Figure 3: A) NOZ/NOY ratio and composition of
ficient for the reaction between OH + NO2 when NOY at various locations along the shipping route
and organic nitrates, we examined the
NO3- NO2
OH +
neglecting the effect of water vapor. B) Relative (ONs = organic nitrates, pNit = particle nitrate).
HNO3 NOX/NOY ratio and the composition of NOY change in the HNO3/NO2 ratio with the new
parameterization compared to IUPAC. The black
HNO3 was calculated via: HNO3 = NOZ – (ONs +
pNit + NOX). B) Efficiency (ε) of ClNO2 formation
throughout the two-month journey. The
line is the tropopause. per NO3 formed in the reaction between NO2 and O3.
Figure 1: Day and nighttime routes from NOX (red) to selected NOZ (black). results for the Mediterranean Sea are illus-You can also read
