About CAC | Centre for Atmospheric Chemistry

The CAC was established in 1985 in response to a growing public concern about the atmospheric environment. Among the critical Atmospheric Chemistry issues that are being addressed by members of the CAC are:

urban and regional oxidant formation
stratospheric ozone depletion
the greenhouse effect
acid precipitation
airborne toxic chemicals
global atmospheric change
arctic pollution

Objectives

To effectively address these issues the CAC was formulated with the following principals:

to stimulate and organize cooperative research efforts in Atmospheric Chemistry
to take a leading role in Canada in educating a new generation of qualified atmospheric chemists
to provide a communications link between York atmospheric chemists and the national and international community

Membership

The CAC comprises York scientists, within the Departments of Chemistry and Earth and Space Science and Engineering, who are active or interested in teaching and/or research in Atmospheric Chemistry. In addition, four senior scientists from the Atmospheric Service and the Max Planck Institute hold Adjunct Professorship and Membership in the CAC.

Forum

The CAC is designed as a Forum through which atmospheric chemists can identify and develop new initiatives in atmospheric research and transmit information to the scientific communities and to the public. {/slide}

Atmospheric Chemistry Education

Through their association with the Department of Chemistry, CAC members are actively establishing York University's role in Atmospheric Chemistry education. The Chemistry Department has the only recognized graduate degree program in Atmospheric Chemistry.

Atmospheric Chemistry Research

Current research in the Centre includes laboratory and field campaigns devoted to the study of sources, sinks, physical transformations and chemical processes occurring in the atmosphere and computer modelling to describe the present atmosphere and to predict the effect of future changes. Major atmospheric issues addressed by the Centre include urban, regional and global oxidant formation, aerosol formation, photochemical smog, acid precipitation, stratospheric ozone depletion, global atmospheric change, arctic pollution and airborne toxic chemicals. The Centre coordinates undergraduate and graduate education in atmospheric chemistry in cooperation with the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering. The Centre's members interact with the national and international atmospheric chemistry community through their strong ties with Environment Canada, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, CFCAS, the Research Centre Juelich, the Max Planck Institute, among others.