Abstract
Two of the most important air pollutants in the atmosphere are the greenhouse gases (GHGs)
carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). On a global level, it is known that there are important
terrestrial and aquatic sinks for GHGs: microbes (especially bacteria). Both of these compounds
have bacteria involved in their sinks. In addition to aquatic and terrestrial environments, bacteria
are present in the atmosphere. Tantalizing new evidence by my research group and others
indicates that bacteria in the atmosphere are metabolically active and could metabolize CO2 and
CH4 in the airborne state. The goal of my research is to determine whether cyanobacteria
(CO2-fixing phototrophs) and methanotrophic bacteria (CH4 oxidizing) in air and cloud
water are actively metabolizing CO2 and CH4 in the atmosphere.
Two of the most important air pollutants in the atmosphere are the greenhouse gases (GHGs)
carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). On a global level, it is known that there are important
terrestrial and aquatic sinks for GHGs: microbes (especially bacteria). Both of these compounds
have bacteria involved in their sinks. In addition to aquatic and terrestrial environments, bacteria
are present in the atmosphere. Tantalizing new evidence by my research group and others
indicates that bacteria in the atmosphere are metabolically active and could metabolize CO2 and
CH4 in the airborne state. The goal of my research is to determine whether cyanobacteria
(CO2-fixing phototrophs) and methanotrophic bacteria (CH4 oxidizing) in air and cloud
water are actively metabolizing CO2 and CH4 in the atmosphere.