Jennifer G. Murphy

Academic Title: Assistant Professor

Phone: 416-946-0260

Office: LM 248

Email:

Research Homepage: http://www.chem.utoronto.ca/staff/JGM/

The field of environmental chemistry comprises many research questions that are both challenging to scientists and relevant to society. Earth systems are difficult to fully characterize because of the multiplicity of temporal and spatial scales involved, and the large number of feedbacks, non-linearities, and interactions between systems. Models developed to represent these systems are often poorly constrained due to the limited availability of long term, precise, and accurate observations with adequate geographic coverage and spatial resolution. Research in our group applies state-of-the-science analytical techniques to address issues including urban air quality, climate change, acid precipitation, and ecosystem function.

We use conventional analytical methods (spectroscopy, spectrometry, chromatography) to acquire observational datasets aimed at improving the understanding of the emissions, distribution and deposition of reactive nitrogen compounds in the environment. In parallel, innovative instrumentation is being developed that can be validated alongside the existing technology, and then employed to answer challenging research questions about reactive nitrogen budgets. The deployment of analytical instrumentation at field sites makes the following attributes advantageous: rugged, mobile, low maintenance, minimal use of electricity and consumables, and freedom from interference caused by atmospheric constituents or conditions. These techniques can also be used in laboratory studies to examine the specific mechanisms and rates that play important roles in the uptake and release of reactive nitrogen by surfaces.

We are currently seeking students and postdocs with interests and experience in analytical or physical chemistry, and environmental science or engineering. If interested please contact Jennifer by email.

J.G. Murphy, D.A. Day, P.J. Wooldridge, R.C. Cohen, Characterizing the upwind contributions to nitrogen deposition within the Lake Tahoe Basin , in preparation

J.G. Murphy and R.C. Cohen, The weekly cycle of ozone and its precursors in the Sacramento urban plume, in preparation

J.G. Murphy, D.A. Day, P.A. Cleary, P.J. Wooldridge, D.B. Millet, M. McKay, G.W. Schade, A.H. Goldstein, R.C. Cohen, Identifying the contributions of transport and production to ozone concentrations in the Sacramento region, in preparation

J.G. Murphy, D.A. Day, P.A. Cleary, P.J. Wooldridge, R.C. Cohen, Observations of the diurnal and seasonal trends in nitrogen oxides in the western Sierra Nevada, submitted to Atmos Chem Phys January 2006.

C. S. Boxe, A.J. Colussi, M.R. Hoffmann, I.M. Perez, J.G. Murphy, and R.C. Cohen, Differential release of gaseous NO and NO 2 from illuminated nitrate-doped water ice, Journal of Physical Chemistry A (in press) 2006 .

P.A. Cleary, J.G. Murphy, P.J. Wooldridge, D.A. Day, D.B. Millet, M. McKay, A.H. Goldstein, R.C. Cohen, Observations of total alkyl nitrates within the Sacramento urban plume Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions , 5, 4801-4843, 2005 .

C.S. Boxe, A.J. Colussi, M.R. Hoffmann, J.G. Murphy, P.J. Wooldridge, T.H. Bertram, R.C. Cohen, Photochemical production and release of gaseous NO 2 from nitrate-doped water ice. Journal of Physical Chemistry A 109 (38), 8520-8525, 2005 .

J.G. Murphy, J.A. Thornton, P.J. Wooldridge, D.A. Day, R.S. Rosen, R.C. Cohen, C. Cantrell, B. Lefer, R.E. Shetter, Measurements of the sum of HO 2 NO 2 and CH 3 O 2 NO 2 in the remote troposphere. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 4, 377-384, 2004 .

R.C. Cohen and J.G. Murphy, Nitrogen Oxide Photochemistry in Earth's Stratosphere: Constraints from Observations, Chemical Reviews 103 (12), 4985-4998, 2003 .