Air Quality Research Branch

The Air Quality Research Branch is one of the Branches of the Atmospheric and Climate Science Directorate, Meteorological Service of Canada, Environment Canada. The main headquarters is in Toronto at 4905 Dufferin Street. The Branch was formed in 1971, originally to study the chemistry and physics of the atmosphere as it pertains to acid rain, but now the staff, the largest group of atmospheric specialists in Canada, studies a variety of atmospheric pollution problems.

There are several air pollution issues facing us both as Canadians and as global citizens:

• Acid deposition and oxidants;
• Hazardous air pollutants;
• Particulate matter;
• Stratospheric ozone depletion; and
• Greenhouse gases buildup.

These issues are the focus of the national research program of the Branch. The Branch undertakes research in three main activities:

• Modelling;
• Systematic measurements; and
• Processes research.

The Branch is organized into the Director's office and four Divisions:

• The Director's Office provides administrative support to the four Divisions;
• The Modelling and Integration Division carries out modelling research on the transport, transformation and removal of pollutants by the atmosphere;
• The Measurements and Analysis Division conducts systematic measurement programs to assess the long-term impact of human activities on atmospheric constituents, and develops and maintains databases for air and precipitation chemistry;
• The Processes Research Division conducts research on the physical, biological and chemical processes that determine the chemistry of the atmosphere; and
• The Experimental Studies Division conducts research on the radiation and photochemistry of the stratosphere.

For more information, we invite you to browse our web site, to search through our publications, or to contact the experts listed.

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