Paul Crutzen was a scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995 for his study of the damaged ozone layer.
- Died: January 28, 2021 (Who else died on January 28?)
- Details of death: Died after an illness at a hospital in Mainz, Germany at the age of 87.
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Scientific achievements
Crutzen’s early research helped us understand the makeup of the ozone layer. He later linked the ongoing thinning of this layer to chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, used in aerosol containers, refrigerators, and air conditioners. Crutzen’s warning against the depletion of the ozone layer helped lead to the 1987 treaty that phased out CFCs, allowing the ozone layer to begin to heal. Later, Crutzen helped advance the concept of nuclear winter, explaining how the atmosphere would be affected by nuclear war. In 2000, Crutzen invented the term Anthropocene to refer to the geological era in which humans have profoundly affected the Earth, typically in destructive ways. He advocated for man-made solutions to climate change including releasing sulfur into the atmosphere to artificially cool the global climate.
Crutzen on the Anthropocene era
“Imagine our descendants in the year 2200 or 2500. They might liken us to aliens who have treated the Earth as if it were a mere stopover for refueling, or even worse, characterize us as barbarians who would ransack their own home. Living up to the Anthropocene means building a culture that grows with Earth’s biological wealth instead of depleting it. Remember, in this new era, nature is us.” —from a 2001 essay
Tributes to Paul Crutzen
Full obituary: The Washington Post
