Check back here for updates on the project to study the effects of  rocket emissions on climate and ozone.

Some of the basics

In the news

Scientific American

Some of the instruments we use in our rocket studies
Droplet Measurement Technologies (see SP2 Soot Photometer)
Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer
LiCor CO2 Analyzer
WB57 ClO/Cl analyzer


Our recent papers on rocket impacts
M. Ross, M. Mills, and D. Toohey
Potential Climate Impact of Black Carbon Emitted by Rockets (2010)
Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L24810, doi:10.1029/2010GL044548

Ross, D. Toohey, M. Peinemann, and P. Ross (2009)
Limits on the Space Launch Market Related to Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
Astropolitics, 7, 50-82, doi:10.1080/14777620902768867

O. Schmid, C.A. Brock, J.M. Reeves, M. Ross, L.M. Avallone, A.M. Gates, D.W. Toohey, C. Weidinmyer, and J.C. Wilson (2003)
Size-resolved Measurements of Particle Emission Indices in the Stratospheric Plume of a Solid-Fueled Rocket Motor
J. Geophys. Res., 108, 10.1029/2002JD002486


A.M. Gates, L.M. Avallone, D.W. Toohey, A.P. Rutter, P.D. Whitefield, D.E. Hagan, A.R. Hopkins, M.N. Ross, P.F. Zittel, T.L. Thompson, R.L. Herman, and R.R. Friedl (2002)
In situ Measurements of Carbon Dioxide, 0.37-4.0
mm Particles, and Water Vapor in the Stratospheric Plumes of Small Rockets
J. Geophys. Res., 10.1029/2002JD00212

M.Y. Danilin, P.J. Popp, R.L. Herman, M.K.W. Ko, M.N. Ross, C.E. Kolb, D.W. Fahey, L.M. Avallone, D.W. Toohey, B.A. Ridley, O. Schmid, J.C. Wilson, D.G. Baumgardner, R.R. Friedl, T.L. Thompson, and J.M. Reeves (2003)
Quantifying Uptake of HNO3 and H2O by Alumina Particles in Athena-II Rocket Plume
J. Geophys. Res., 108, 10.1029/2002JD002601

P.J. Popp, B.A. Ridley, L.M. Avallone, D.W. Toohey, R.S. Gao, J.A. Newman, M.J. Northway, J.C. Holocek, D.W. Fahey, J.G. Walega, F.E. Grahek, O. Schmid, J.C. Wilson, T.L. Thompson, K.K. Kelly, R.L. Herman, M.N. Ross, and P.F. Zittel (2002)
The Emission and Chemistry of Reactive Nitrogen Species in the Plume of an Athena II Solid-Fuel Rocket Motor
Geophys. Res. Lett., 29 (18), 1887, doi:10.1029/2002GL015197

M.N. Ross, D.W. Toohey,  W.T. Rawlins, E.C. Richard, K.K. Kelly, A.F. Tuck, M.H. Proffitt, D.E. Hagen, A.R. Hopkins,  P.D. Whitefield, J.R. Benbrook, and W.R. Sheldon (2000)
Observation of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Associated With Delta II Rocket Emissions
Geophys. Res. Lett., 27, 2209-2212,
doi:10.1029/1999GL011159