Global Atmospheric Chemistry and Impacts from Aviation

Abstract

The atmosphere contains a large number of chemical trace compounds among which complex chemical processes take place. These processes form an important part of the natural global biogeochemical cycles. Anthropogenic emissions of chemically active pollutants can interfere in the natural chemical processes and result in impacts on the climate system or lead to the accumulation of substances hazardous to ecosystems. This chapter outlines the most important chemical processes taking place in the atmosphere with a view to the global scale and to an extent as they are of relevance to chemical interference caused by aircraft engine emissions. The effects caused by emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur compounds, and water vapor from subsonic aviation are discussed and placed into context with global atmospheric chemistry.