The ACP Paul Crutzen Publication Award was created to recognize an outstanding publication in ACP that advances our understanding of atmospheric chemistry and physics. The annual award was created in honour of Paul Crutzen, Nobel Prize awardee and former director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, who played a pivotal role in the creation of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

2024

Two articles are joint recipients of the 2024 award:

10 Oct 2024

The 2023 global warming spike was driven by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation

Shiv Priyam Raghuraman, Brian Soden, Amy Clement, Gabriel Vecchi, Sofia Menemenlis, and Wenchang Yang

Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11275–11283, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11275-2024, 2024

Award citation

Award citation

The rapid increase in global warming in 2023 sparked fears that Earth has entered a new warm state. Raghuraman and co-authors found that the unusual spike in temperatures can be attributed to an El Niño event that year and the occurrence of a La Niña event that immediately preceded it. The implication is that global warming may be continuing at a steady average rate without any dramatic acceleration.

Hide

27 Mar 2024

Powering aircraft with 100 % sustainable aviation fuel reduces ice crystals in contrails

Raphael Satoru Märkl, Christiane Voigt, Daniel Sauer, Rebecca Katharina Dischl, Stefan Kaufmann, Theresa Harlaß, Valerian Hahn, Anke Roiger, Cornelius Weiß-Rehm, Ulrike Burkhardt, Ulrich Schumann, Andreas Marsing, Monika Scheibe, Andreas Dörnbrack, Charles Renard, Maxime Gauthier, Peter Swann, Paul Madden, Darren Luff, Reetu Sallinen, Tobias Schripp, and Patrick Le Clercq

Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 3813–3837, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3813-2024, 2024

Award citation

Award citation

There is increasing pressure on the airline industry to reduce net carbon emissions, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is one way that they are aiming to achieve that. This paper presents timely and fundamental measurement of very large effect of SAF on cirrus ice crystal number concentrations, with a quantified effect on climate. Such measurements will be highly valuable input to many modelling studies exploring the effect of SAF on climate.

Hide

Congratulations also to the authors of these three runners up:

Heslin-Rees, D., Tunved, P., Ström, J., Cremer, R., Zieger, P., Riipinen, I., Ekman, A. M. L., Eleftheriadis, K., and Krejci, R.: Increase in precipitation scavenging contributes to long-term reductions of light-absorbing aerosol in the Arctic, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 2059–2075, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2059-2024, 2024.

Seidel, J. S., Kiselev, A. A., Keinert, A., Stratmann, F., Leisner, T., and Hartmann, S.: Secondary ice production – no evidence of efficient rime-splintering mechanism, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5247–5263, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5247-2024, 2024.

Brown, L. V., Pound, R. J., Ives, L. S., Jones, M. R., Andrews, S. J., and Carpenter, L. J.: Negligible temperature dependence of the ozone–iodide reaction and implications for oceanic emissions of iodine, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 3905–3923, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3905-2024, 2024.

2024 award committee: Sonia Kreidenweis (Chair, Colorado State University), SK Satheesh (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore), Steve Sherwood (University of New South Wales), John P. Burrows (University of Bremen), Ulrike Lohmann (ETH Zurich), Ilona Riipinen (Stockholm University) and Hiroshi Tanimoto (National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan).

2023

Two articles are joint recipients of the 2023 award:

25 Jul 2023

Detection of large-scale cloud microphysical changes within a major shipping corridor after implementation of the International Maritime Organization 2020 fuel sulfur regulations

Michael S. Diamond

Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 8259–8269, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8259-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8259-2023, 2023

Award citation

Award citation

In 2020, international law imposed strong restrictions on sulfur emissions from the international shipping industry. In this study, sophisticated statistical techniques were used to compare cloud droplet size and reflectivity before and after the law was implemented, finding strong evidence that droplet sizes have increased and that clouds have darkened, resulting in a significant local warming effect. In addition to their geophysical significance, the results provide independent evidence for general compliance with the 2020 regulations. The award committee described the paper as innovative and timely, with high societal relevance.

Hide

27 Jan 2023

Long-term monitoring of cloud water chemistry at Whiteface Mountain: the emergence of a new chemical regime

Christopher E. Lawrence, Paul Casson, Richard Brandt, James J. Schwab, James E. Dukett, Phil Snyder, Elizabeth Yerger, Daniel Kelting, Trevor C. VandenBoer, and Sara Lance

Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 1619–1639, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1619-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1619-2023, 2023

Award citation

Award citation

Long-term trends in cloud water chemical composition from 1994 to 2021 show the emergence of a new chemical regime dominated by organics and ammonium, quite different from the highly acidic regime observed in the past. This paper highlights the value of long-term measurements as well as the changing composition of the atmosphere. The award committee highlighted the innovative nature of the study and the clever use of long-term observations with novel methods, with the potential for high impact on policy because it points out that current air quality monitoring may not be appropriate.

Hide

Congratulations also to the authors of these eight further papers, which were shortlisted for the award:

Zheng, Y., Horowitz, L. W., Menzel, R., Paynter, D. J., Naik, V., Li, J., and Mao, J.: Anthropogenic amplification of biogenic secondary organic aerosol production, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 8993–9007, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8993-2023, 2023.

Rosky, E., Cantrell, W., Li, T., Nakamura, I., and Shaw, R. A.: Molecular simulations reveal that heterogeneous ice nucleation occurs at higher temperatures in water under capillary tension, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10625–10642, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10625-2023, 2023.

Vettikkat, L., Miettinen, P., Buchholz, A., Rantala, P., Yu, H., Schallhart, S., Petäjä, T., Seco, R., Männistö, E., Kulmala, M., Tuittila, E.-S., Guenther, A. B., and Schobesberger, S.: High emission rates and strong temperature response make boreal wetlands a large source of isoprene and terpenes, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2683–2698, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2683-2023, 2023.

Schuit, B. J., Maasakkers, J. D., Bijl, P., Mahapatra, G., van den Berg, A.-W., Pandey, S., Lorente, A., Borsdorff, T., Houweling, S., Varon, D. J., McKeever, J., Jervis, D., Girard, M., Irakulis-Loitxate, I., Gorroño, J., Guanter, L., Cusworth, D. H., and Aben, I.: Automated detection and monitoring of methane super-emitters using satellite data, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 9071–9098, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9071-2023, 2023.

Flynn, C. M., Huusko, L., Modak, A., and Mauritsen, T.: Strong aerosol cooling alone does not explain cold-biased mid-century temperatures in CMIP6 models, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 15121–15133, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15121-2023, 2023.

Feng, L., Palmer, P. I., Parker, R. J., Lunt, M. F., and Bösch, H.: Methane emissions are predominantly responsible for record-breaking atmospheric methane growth rates in 2020 and 2021, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 4863–4880, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4863-2023, 2023.

Varble, A. C., Igel, A. L., Morrison, H., Grabowski, W. W., and Lebo, Z. J.: Opinion: A critical evaluation of the evidence for aerosol invigoration of deep convection, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 13791–13808, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13791-2023, 2023.

Sarangi, C., Qian, Y., Leung, L. R., Zhang, Y., Zou, Y., and Wang, Y.: Projected increases in wildfires may challenge regulatory curtailment of PM2.5 over the eastern US by 2050, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 1769–1783, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1769-2023, 2023.

2023 award committee: Annica Ekman (chair, Stockholm University), SK Satheesh (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore), Susan Solomon (MIT), Steve Sherwood (University of New South Wales), John P. Burrows (University of Bremen), Ulrike Lohmann (ETH Zurich), Sonia Kreidenweis (Colorado State University), and Hiroshi Tanimoto (National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan)

2022

20 Jul 2022

Climate consequences of hydrogen emissions

Ilissa B. Ocko and Steven P. Hamburg

Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 9349–9368, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9349-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9349-2022, 2022

Award citation

Award citation

Hydrogen is widely considered to be a zero- or near-zero-carbon energy carrier and is therefore being vigorously pursued in many countries as part of the transition to a low-carbon economy. However, hydrogen has significant climate impacts that are widely overlooked. In this timely article, the authors compare a range of realistic emission scenarios and show that the effect on climate varies between minimal and substantial depending on the hydrogen production method, emission rate, and time horizon. In some scenarios, hydrogen's indirect effects can considerably undermine the climate benefits of decarbonization strategies, especially on the timescale of a few decades. The authors indicate that actions to reduce hydrogen emissions as infrastructure is scaled up will be essential if we are to maximize the climate benefits of hydrogen systems.

Hide

Congratulations also to the authors of these five further papers, which were shortlisted for the award:

Dagan, G.: Equilibrium climate sensitivity increases with aerosol concentration due to changes in precipitation efficiency, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 15767–15775, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15767-2022, 2022.

Drews, A., Huo, W., Matthes, K., Kodera, K., and Kruschke, T.: The Sun's role in decadal climate predictability in the North Atlantic, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 7893–7904, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7893-2022, 2022.

Legras, B., Duchamp, C., Sellitto, P., Podglajen, A., Carboni, E., Siddans, R., Grooß, J.-U., Khaykin, S., and Ploeger, F.: The evolution and dynamics of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai sulfate aerosol plume in the stratosphere, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 14957–14970, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-14957-2022, 2022.

Pletzer, J., Hauglustaine, D., Cohen, Y., Jöckel, P., and Grewe, V.: The climate impact of hydrogen-powered hypersonic transport, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 14323–14354, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-14323-2022, 2022.

Quaas, J., Jia, H., Smith, C., Albright, A. L., Aas, W., Bellouin, N., Boucher, O., Doutriaux-Boucher, M., Forster, P. M., Grosvenor, D., Jenkins, S., Klimont, Z., Loeb, N. G., Ma, X., Naik, V., Paulot, F., Stier, P., Wild, M., Myhre, G., and Schulz, M.: Robust evidence for reversal of the trend in aerosol effective climate forcing, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 12221–12239, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12221-2022, 2022.

2022 award committee: Annica Ekman (chair, Stockholm University), SK Satheesh (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore), Susan Solomon (MIT), Steve Sherwood (University of New South Wales), John P. Burrows (University of Bremen), Ulrike Lohmann (ETH Zurich), Sonia Kreidenweis (Colorado State University), and Hiroshi Tanimoto (National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan)

2021

09 Mar 2021

Global impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the surface concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and ozone

Christoph A. Keller, Mathew J. Evans, K. Emma Knowland, Christa A. Hasenkopf, Sruti Modekurty, Robert A. Lucchesi, Tomohiro Oda, Bruno B. Franca, Felipe C. Mandarino, M. Valeria Díaz Suárez, Robert G. Ryan, Luke H. Fakes, and Steven Pawson

Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 3555–3592, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-3555-2021,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-3555-2021, 2021

Award citation

Award citation

COVID-19 was the major event of 2021, and presented a unique opportunity to understand the atmospheric effects of widespread reductions in air pollutant emissions. However, the effects on atmospheric chemistry were short-lasting and therefore very challenging to separate reliably from the large variability in meteorology. In a very effective application of machine learning, Keller et al. achieved this separation for thousands observation sites in 46 countries. The results reveal reductions in nitrogen dioxide concentrations of as much as 60%, but much more complex responses of ozone that depend on season, environment, and non-linear chemical processes. The results provide a unique dataset to test our understanding of atmospheric chemistry and to more-reliably predict future reductions in ozone pollution as nitrogen dioxide emissions decline.

Hide

2021 award committee: Annica Ekman (chair, Stockholm University), SK Satheesh (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore), Susan Solomon (MIT), Steve Sherwood (University of New South Wales), John P. Burrows (University of Bremen), Ulrike Lohmann (ETH Zurich), Sonia Kreidenweis (Colorado State University), and Hiroshi Tanimoto (National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan)