Discovering, understanding, and quantifying the processes that control the chemical makeup of Earth's atmosphere to better understand its future – and ours
Chemical Sciences Division
Graphic: D. Fisher, NOAA Chemical Sciences Division Mission: Understanding Our Atmosphere
Photo: J. Cozic, NOAA / CIRES Climate Change: NASA P-3B in flight sampling Arctic haze layer over Alaska during ARCPAC April 2008
Photos: D. Lack, NOAA / CIRES CSD Assists in the Gulf: aerial of BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill boundary and an oil fire plume June 2010
Photo: R. Marchbanks, NOAA / CIRES CalNex 2010: NOAA Twin Otter at Mammoth Lakes, California
Photo: C. Burgdorf, NOAA / CIRES Ozone Layer: Polar stratospheric clouds over Kiruna, Sweden during SOLVE February 2000
Climate Change
Earth's atmosphere is changing. CSD scientists work in the lab, in the field, and with computer models to understand how those changes will affect climate. Read More...
Air Quality
CSD researchers study the chemical and physical processes that affect air quality, to better understand and forecast pollution events and trends that threaten human health. Read More...
Ozone Layer
People have harmed Earth's protective ozone layer by releasing ozone-depleting chemicals into the atmosphere. CSD scientists are international leaders in the scientific understanding of stratospheric ozone depletion – and ozone recovery. Read More...
Research Overview
Research Products
- current Seminar ScheduleSeminars
- Sep 08 Christiane Voigt: Detection of contrails and volcanic aerosol in the mid latitude tropopause region
- Sep 15 David Fahey: NOAA ESRL CSD
- Sep 29 Tom Ryerson / Joost deGouw: NOAA ESRL CSD
Research Groups
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Cloud & Aerosol Processes Measuring and understanding how atmospheric particles affect clouds, climate, and air quality |
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Regional Chemical Modeling Using models and observations to understand atmospheric pollutant transport, processing, and effects on air quality and climate |
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Tropospheric Chemistry Developing and deploying state-of-the-art instruments to understand how processes in the lower atmosphere affect air quality and climate today – and in the future |
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Atmospheric Remote Sensing Developing and using laser-based instruments for deployment on land, ship, and airplane to understand atmospheric processes that affect air quality, weather, and climate |
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Atmospheric Composition & Chemical Processes Conducting airborne field missions and laboratory chemical measurements critical to understanding climate, air quality, and ozone depletion |
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Chemistry & Climate Processes Understanding atmospheric chemistry and climate processes with integrated analysis and modeling |