Atmospheric chemistry and climate

ABSTRACT

paper presents an overview of the chemical and photochemical processes in the atmosphere (troposphere and stratosphere) which are of importance for climate studies. Greenhouse gases, which contribute to the warming of the Earth's surface, are destroyed by oxidants (such as OH) which are produced through complex chemical processes. These may be alterd by human activity. Models predict for the future substantial changes of the atmospheric composition and of the climatic conditions, Dramatic perturbations resulting from human activities (such as the ozone hole over Antartica) are already observed. (AU)