Phil Stevens, an environmental science professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, said he will use the money to take measurements of atmospheric hydroxyl radicals.
He’ll do so in forested areas throughout the country.
Stevens described the hydroxyl radicals, known as OH, as the “cleansing” agents of the atmosphere.
He explained that they control the lifetime of gases like methane, a greenhouse gas, in the air.
“The more OH there is, the shorter the lifetime of methane and the less impact it will have on climate change,” he said.
Stevens said the OH radical is influenced by a lot of other emissions. Trees often release these emissions to cool themselves, so they will emit more as temperatures rise.
These emissions will react with the hydroxyl radical, potentially reducing the concentration of OH and increasing the amount of methane in the atmosphere.
Stevens said there is debate about whether emissions from trees recycle OH, which would be a good thing, or remove it, which would contribute to atmospheric pollution.
“The measurements and models say different things,” Stevens said.
The models suggest the hydroxyl radicals are comprised of increased tree emissions but some measurements show they are still functioning as normal, he added.
Most of the discrepancies between measurements and models in previous hydroxyl radical studies occur in forested areas, which cover most of the Earth.
“The fact that we don’t understand the radicals in this area has global implications,” he said.
Stevens said understanding the nature of the radicals is important but difficult due to their short life spans and low concentrations.
“We are one of a dozen groups worldwide that have built an instrument capable of detecting a radical in the atmosphere,” Stevens said.
The funding will allow his team and others to take measurements in the IU Research and Teaching Preserve this summer, the University of Michigan Biological Station next year and the Manitou Experimental Forest Observatory in Colorado during the final year of the grant.
Stevens said his current measurement scope is limited to the United States due to lack of funding.
“If we get funding, we can go other places,” he said.
