Akkihebbal Ravishankara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ravi Ravishankara
ForMemRS FAAAS FRSC
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|---|---|
| Born |
Akkihebbal Ramaiah Ravishankara
November 16, 1949 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Mysore (BSc, MSc) University of Florida (PhD) |
| Awards | Polanyi Medal (1998) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Atmospheric chemistry Air quality Climate change Ozone layer Science policy |
| Institutions | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Colorado State University University of Maryland Georgia Institute of Technology University of Colorado |
| Thesis | The Photolysis, Radiolysis and Mass Spectrometry of 1122-tetrafluorocyclobutane (1975) |
Akkihebbal Ramaiah (Ravi) Ravishankara is a famous scientist. He studies chemistry and the Earth's atmosphere. He is a professor at Colorado State University.
Dr. Ravishankara is known for his important work on the air we breathe. He has studied how the ozone layer gets thinner. He also researches climate change and air quality. His work helped us understand how certain chemicals affect our planet. These include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). He helped lead international groups that study the ozone layer.
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Becoming a Scientist: Ravi Ravishankara's Education
Ravi Ravishankara was born in Shimoga, India in 1949. He went to the University of Mysore for his first degrees. Later, he moved to the University of Florida in Gainesville. There, he earned his PhD in 1975.
Exploring Earth's Air: Ravi Ravishankara's Research
Dr. Ravishankara's work focuses on chemical processes in the air. This helps us understand the atmosphere of Earth. His research has improved our knowledge of ozone depletion, climate change, and air pollutants.
After getting his PhD, he began studying the atmosphere. He researched the Ozone Layer Depletion at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He even did research in Antarctica.
Protecting the Ozone Layer
After the Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987, Dr. Ravishankara helped find safer chemicals. This agreement aimed to stop using CFCs. His work on greenhouse gases also helped with the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. This agreement aimed to reduce carbon dioxide.
More recently, his research on HFCs was very important. This work led to the 2016 Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. This amendment aims to reduce the use of HFCs.
Understanding Air Chemistry
In 2004, Dr. Ravishankara led a team at NOAA. They published important new information about chemical reactions in the air. Their findings showed that some earlier measurements were not quite right.
They used special tools to study how oxygen atoms react with other gases. These gases include oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and greenhouse gases. Their results showed that these reactions happen faster than previously thought.
In 2009, Dr. Ravishankara's team also warned about nitrous oxide. They published their findings in Science magazine. Their research showed that nitrous oxide can harm the ozone layer. Human activities, like farming and burning fossil fuels, cause more nitrous oxide to be released.
Dr. Ravishankara was a senior scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He later became the director of its Chemical Sciences Division in Boulder, Colorado.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Ravishankara has received many awards for his important work. Some of these include:
- 1995: Silver Medal from the United States Department of Commerce
- 1996: Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency
- 1998: Polanyi Medal from the Royal Society of Chemistry
- 2000: Became a Member of the US National Academy of Sciences
- 2001: Became a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
- 2004: US Presidential Rank Meritorious Award
- 2005: Award for Creative Advances in Environmental Sciences from the American Chemical Society
- 2005: Became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC)
- 2019: Elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMemRS)
