SEMINAR 2026
The Atmospheric Detergent Effect: Strengthening the Case for Methane Mitigation in a Cleaner-Air World
| Speaker | Dr Glen Chua, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, USA |
| Date/Time | Tuesday, 24 Mar, 2pm |
| Location | S11-02-07 Conference Room |
| Host | Visiting Prof Yi Ming |
Abstract
The hydroxyl radical (OH) is also known as the atmosphere’s ‘detergent’, because it removes many air pollutants and some greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as methane (CH4), the 2nd largest contributor to global warming behind carbon dioxide. This talk will highlight how various pathways towards a world with cleaner air could deplete atmospheric OH using results from global climate model experiments. The first pathway involves hydrogen (H2) adoption, something that Singapore is considering heavily in its bid to decarbonize. When (H2) leaks from the supply chain, it actually reacts with and lowers the amount of atmospheric OH. Another pathway involves air pollution management. When air pollution, especially from sources like car exhaust, is reduced, this can also reduce atmospheric OH, a phenomenon that was observed during COVID-19. In both of these pathways, when OH is depleted, it leads to an unintended climate penalty as CH4 stays in the atmosphere for a longer time. If CH4 mitigation is pursued in tandem, it can help offset these negative impacts on OH and also offset unintended climate consequences. Overall, this talk highlights how considering OH can motivate an integrated approach towards tackling air pollution and climate.
Biography
Dr. Glen Chua is a NASA Postdoctoral Program Postdoctoral Fellow at NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, USA. Currently, his research focuses on using global Earth system models to better understand the two-way interactions between the climate system and atmospheric composition. Specifically, he is looking at how various Earth system processes, such as lightning, emissions from vegetation, and fires, change with climate change, and their resultant impacts on atmospheric composition. Prior to joining NASA GISS, Glen earned his PhD at Princeton University and NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, USA where he investigated the past and future drivers of the hydroxyl radical, with implications on the climate and air quality impacts of a future hydrogen economy. Glen grew up in Singapore before moving to the United Kingdom to obtain his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Physics from the University of Cambridge.
