Paul Jozef Crutzen. 3 December 1933—28 January 2021

Müller, Rolf

doi:10.1098/rsbm.2022.0011

Journal Article

FZJ-2022-04799

Paul Jozef Crutzen. 3 December 1933—28 January 2021

Müller, R. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2022
Soc. London

Biographical memoirs of fellows of the Royal Society 73, 127 - 156 (2022) [10.1098/rsbm.2022.0011]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/32920 doi:10.1098/rsbm.2022.0011

Abstract: Paul J. Crutzen was both a warm-hearted person and a brilliant scientist. His researchinterests were broad, encompassing topics of relevance in the mesosphere, the stratosphereand the troposphere. He made fundamental scientific contributions to a wide range of topicsin the science of all these atmospheric regions. For example, he first described the NO x -driven ozone loss cycle in the stratosphere, he contributed key ideas on how to explain the‘ozone hole’ and he made fundamental discoveries on the impact of biomass-burning on theatmosphere. Understanding and combating the origins of air pollution and climate changewere driving motivations for his life’s work. Further, he pioneered the concept that is knownas ‘nuclear winter’, he initiated the resumption of discussion on geoengineering, and coinedthe term ‘Anthropocene’. In 1995, together with Mario J. Molina and F. Sherwood Rowland(ForMemRS 2004), Paul was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for ground-breakingwork ‘in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decompositionof ozone’. With all this focus on science, he did not forget the importance of private life,regarding both his family and his colleagues and students. Finally, Paul’s work had a profoundinfluence not only on the scientific world, but also on different aspects of environmentalpolitics throughout many countries. His works on the impact of human activities on theatmosphere and climate have been influential in the past and are influential today. They providea beacon of knowledge for the next generations of scientists and environmental policymakers.

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