Aaron M. Johnson
2nd Year Graduate Student Chemistry amjohnson-at-berkeley.edu |
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Current Research
I use isotope ratio mass spectrometry to analyze N2O, a greenhouse gas. By careful monitoring of the parent and primary fragment ions, I am able to determine the site-specific isotopic composition of both the terminal and central nitrogen atoms. In collaboration with CSIRO in Australia and NASA campaigns throughout the Americas, measurements on both tropospheric and stratospheric air have been performed, providing insight into the longtime trend of N2O levels and anthropogenic influences, and an understanding of the role of this important molecule in stratospheric chemistry.
