Paul J. Crutzen: Difference between revisions

Crutzen has conducted research primary in [[atmospheric chemistry]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Ramanathan |first=V. |authorlink=Veerabhadran Ramanathan |first2=P.J. |last2=Crutzen |first3=J.T. |last3=Kiehl |first4=D. |last4=Rosenfeld |year=2001 |title=Aerosols, Climate, and the Hydrological Cycle |journal=Science |volume=294 |pages=2119–2124 |doi=10.1126/science.1064034 |pmid=11739947 |issue=5549 |bibcode=2001Sci...294.2119R}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Ramanathan |first=V. |first2=P.J. |last2=Crutzen |first3=J. |last3=Lelieveld |first4=A.P. |last4=Mitra |first5=D. |last5=Althausen |year=2001 |title=Indian Ocean Experiment: An integrated analysis of the climate forcing and effects of the great Indo-Asian haze |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research |volume=106 |issue=D22 |pages=28,371–28,398 |url=http://www-abc-asia.ucsd.edu/APMEX/Ram%20et%20al-INDOEX-JGR-2001.pdf | doi = 10.1029/2001JD900133|bibcode = 2001JGR...10628371R |display-authors=etal}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=M.O. |last1=Andreae |first2=P.J. |last2=Crutzen |year=1997 |title=Atmospheric Aerosols: Biogeochemical Sources and Role in Atmospheric Chemistry |journal=Science |volume=276 |issue=5315 |pages=1052–1058 |doi=10.1126/science.276.5315.1052}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dentener |first1=F.J. |last2=Carmichael |first2=G.R. |last3=Zhang |first3=Y. |last4=Lelieveld |first4=J. |last5=Crutzen |first5=P.J. |year=1996 |title=Role of mineral aerosol as a reactive surface in the global troposphere |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research |volume=101 |issue=D17 |pages=22,869–22,889 |doi=10.1029/96jd01818}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first=P.J. |last1=Crutzen |first2=M.O. |last2=Andreae |year=1990 |title=Biomass Burning in the Tropics: Impact on Atmospheric Chemistry and Biogeochemical Cycles |journal=Science |volume=250 |pages=1669–1678 |doi=10.1126/science.250.4988.1669 |pmid=17734705 |issue=4988|bibcode = 1990Sci...250.1669C }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=P.J. |last1=Crutzen |first2=J.W. |last2=Birks |title=The atmosphere after a nuclear war: Twilight at noon |journal=Ambio |year=1982 |volume=11 |pages=114–125 |jstor=4312777 |issue=2/3 |publisher=Allen Press}}</ref> He is best known for his research on [[ozone depletion]]. In 1970<ref>{{cite journal |first1=P.J. |last1=Crutzen |title=The influence of nitrogen oxides on the atmospheric content |url=http://people.sca.uqam.ca/~gauthier/STA-9850/Crutzen%20(QJRMS%201970).pdf|journal=Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. |year=1970 |volume=96 |pages=320–325 |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|access-date=2017-04-29}}</ref> he pointed out that emissions of [[nitrous oxide]] (N₂O), a stable, long-lived gas produced by soil bacteria, from the Earth's surface could affect the amount of nitric oxide (NO) in the stratosphere. Crutzen showed that nitrous oxide lives long enough to reach the stratosphere, where it is converted into NO. Crutzen then noted that increasing use of fertilizers might have led to an increase in nitrous oxide emissions over the natural background, which would in turn result in an increase in the amount of NO in the stratosphere. Thus human activity could affect the stratospheric ozone layer. In the following year, Crutzen and (independently) Harold Johnston suggested that NO emissions from the fleet of, then proposed, [[supersonic transport]] (SST) airliners(a few hundred [[Boeing 2707]]s), which would fly in the lower stratosphere, could also deplete the ozone layer; however more recent analysis has disputed this as a large concern.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stason.org/TULARC/science-engineering/ozone-depletion-intro/24-Will-commercial-supersonic-aircraft-damage-the-ozone-laye.html |title=his article is from the Ozone Depletion FAQ, by Robert Parson colorado.edu with numerous contributions by others. 24 Will commercial supersonic aircraft damage the ozone layer?}}</ref>

 

 

He has co-signed a letter from over 70 Nobel laureate scientists to the [[Louisiana Legislature]] supporting the repeal of [[Louisiana| Louisiana’s]] [[creationism]] law, the [[Louisiana Science Education Act]].<ref>[http://www.repealcreationism.com/397/nobellaureateletter Nobel Laureate Letter]</ref> In 2003 he was one of 22 Nobel laureates who signed the [[Humanism and Its Aspirations|Humanist Manifesto]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.americanhumanist.org/Humanism/Humanist_Manifesto_III/Notable_Signers | title=Notable Signers | publisher=American Humanist Association | work=Humanism and Its Aspirations | accessdate=October 1, 2012}}</ref>

Steve Connor, Science Editor of the ''Independent'', wrote:

Professor Paul Crutzen, who won a Nobel Prize in 1995 for his work on the hole in the ozone layer, believes that political attempts to limit man-made greenhouse gases are so pitiful that a radical contingency plan is needed.

 

Professor Crutzen has proposed a method of artificially cooling the global climate by releasing particles of [[sulphur]] in the upper atmosphere, along with other particles at lower atmospheric levels, which would reflect sunlight and heat back into space. The controversial proposal is being taken seriously by scientists,{{who|date=May 2015}} because Professor Crutzen has a proven track record in atmospheric research. If this artificial cooling method actually were to work, then we would be able to help reverse some of the effects of the emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels, buying us time to find a permanent energy replacement. This could be crucial in helping maintain the planet's integrity and livability.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Paul J. |last=Crutzen |url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/t1vn75m458373h63/fulltext.pdf