This seminar is open to Met Society members:
> In case you are interested …
>
>
> Physics Department Seminar
> Tuesday 21 July
> 11 am
>
> Speaker:
> A/Professor Michael Box, School of Physics, University of New South Wales
>
> Title:
> Atmospheric Aerosols: Physics, Chemistry and Climatic Impacts
>
> Abstract:
> The Earth's climate is maintained by the atmospheric flows of solar and
> terrestrial radiation, which have almost no spectral overlap. Any change
> in atmospheric composition, or surface reflectivity, which alters one or
> both of these flows is usually referred to as radiative (climate)
> forcing. The best known, and best understood, of these forcings is the
> impact of increasing levels of greenhouse gases on terrestrial (thermal)
> radiation, with a current estimate of about 2.5 Wm-2.
> Atmospheric aerosols small particles of natural or human origin are
> the second key forcing agent. As well as reflecting some solar radiation
> back to space, they may also modify both the albedo and lifetime of
> clouds, again reflecting solar radiation. Both of these processes
> partially counteract the effects of greenhouse gases a negative forcing.
> Unlike the greenhouse gases, aerosols are extremely heterogeneous: not
> only in space and time, but also in their optical/radiative properties.
> Black soot absorbs solar radiation, rather than reflecting it, causing
> local heating. Mineral dust is a mild absorber, with a question as to its
> net radiative effect cooling or warming.
> Australian desert dust , much redder than northern hemisphere deserts,
> is a major unknown. In recent years, my group has attempted to fill this
> gap. In this talk I will discuss the physics behind aerosol forcing, and
> present some results of our work.
>
> Venue: > Seminar Room > Room 426 Physics & Mathematics Bldg, Auckland
> University
>
> *****************************
> _______________________
> FROM Roger Davies
> Buckley-Glavish Professor of Climate Physics
>
> Mail: Dept. of Physics, The University of Auckland
> Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
> Deliveries: Room 605, Science Center, Building 303
> 38 Princes St, Auckland 1020, New Zealand
> phone: 64 9 923 8868
> fax: 64 9 373 7445
> email: r.davies@...
> _________________________
>
>
>
>
>
>