Infrared spectroscopy of halogenated species for atmospheric remote sensing

Fluorine- and chlorine-containing molecules in the atmosphere are very strong greenhouse gases, meaning that even small amounts of these gases contribute significantly to the radiative forcing of climate. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are regulated by the 1987 Montreal Protocol because they deplete the ozone layer. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which do not deplete the ozone layer and are not regulated by the Montreal Protocol, have been introduced as replacements for CFCs and HCFCs. HFCs have global-warming potentials many times greater than carbon dioxide, and are increasing in the atmosphere at a very fast rate. Various satellite instruments monitor many of these molecules by detecting infrared radiation that has passed through the Earth's atmosphere. However, the quantification of their atmospheric abundances crucially requires accurate quantitative infrared spectroscopy. This talk will focus on new and improved laboratory spectroscopic measurements for a number of important halogenated species.Ope