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Award winning science

7 November 2000

Oxford scientist, Professor Gus Hancock, has won one of Italy's top environmental awards.

Along with Dr Andreas Hofzumahaus from Forschungszentrum Jülich in northern Germany, Professor Gus Hancock received the award for shedding new light on how the Earth's atmosphere can rid itself of pollution.

The pair collected the Italgas Science & Technology for the Environment prize in Turin last month for their work on sunlight breaking down ozone molecules in the troposphere, the lowest part of the atmosphere.

Their research is on the production of the chemical known as the hydroxyl radical, of great importance in removing potentially harmful gases such as carbon monoxide or methane from the troposphere. As a side effect the oxidation of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons can produce more ozone in polluted air. The hydroxyl radical is produced when tropospheric ozone decomposes in sunlight to produce energetic oxygen atoms, which then react rapidly with water vapour.

However, field work and laboratory studies have led the scientists to revise previous thoughts on how much of the hydroxyl radical is produced. It is now believed that 30 per cent more is produced in mid-Europe during summer months, and the yield in the winter should be more than doubled.

Professor Hancock explained, "This research has improved greatly our understanding of how sunshine breaks down ozone and produces the hydroxyl radical that is responsible for cleaning the troposphere. The hydroxyl radical is Nature's atmospheric detergent - it cleanses and prevents the build up of toxic gases such as carbon monoxide. Life would be very different without it."

Further information

Professor Gus Hancock
Oxford University
Tel: 01865 275439

Nicky Old
Press Officer
Oxford University
Tel: 01865 278182

NERC Press Office
Natural Environment Research Council
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411727 or 411561
Mob: 07917 086369 or 557215

Notes

1. The annual award was founded by Italgas, which manages the gas distribution services in over 1,000 Italian municipalities, as well as providing services in Hungary, Argentina, Slovenia and Portugal.

2. Professor Gus Hancock is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). NERC leads in providing independent research and training in the environmental sciences.

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