F. Sherwood Rowland

F. Sherwood Rowland
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Name	F. Sherwood Rowland
Caption	Rowland in 2007
Birth date	28 June 1927
Birth place	Delaware, Ohio, U.S.
Death date	10 March 2012
Death place	Newport Beach, California, U.S.
Fields	Chemistry, Atmospheric science
Alma mater	Ohio Wesleyan University (B.A.), University of Chicago (M.S., Ph.D.)
Doctoral advisor	Willard Libby
Known for	Ozone depletion research
Prizes	Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1995), Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (1983)
Spouse	Joan Rowland

F. Sherwood Rowland was an American chemist whose pioneering research fundamentally altered our understanding of Earth's atmosphere and its vulnerability to human activity. He is best known for his discovery, alongside postdoctoral researcher Mario J. Molina, that chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases could destroy the ozone layer, a critical shield protecting life from harmful ultraviolet radiation. This groundbreaking work, which faced intense initial skepticism from industry and some scientific quarters, ultimately led to the landmark Montreal Protocol and earned Rowland the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. His career exemplified the vital role of basic scientific inquiry in identifying and addressing global environmental threats.

Early life and education

Frank Sherwood Rowland was born in Delaware, Ohio, and developed an early interest in science. He completed his undergraduate studies in chemistry at Ohio Wesleyan University in 1948. Rowland then pursued graduate work at the University of Chicago, where he earned his master's degree in 1951 and his Ph.D. in 1954 under the supervision of Nobel laureate Willard Libby, a pioneer in radiocarbon dating. His doctoral research involved studying radioactive isotopes, a foundation that later informed his investigative approach to atmospheric chemistry. Following postdoctoral work at Princeton University, he began his academic career, holding positions at the University of Kansas before joining the faculty at the University of California, Irvine in 1964.

Research on chlorofluorocarbons

In the early 1970s, Rowland shifted his research focus to atmospheric chemistry, intrigued by the fate of synthetic gases. In 1973, he and his postdoctoral associate Mario J. Molina began investigating the atmospheric impacts of chlorofluorocarbons, then widely used in aerosol spray cans, refrigeration, and air conditioning. Their seminal 1974 paper in the journal Nature detailed a chain reaction whereby CFCs, once released, rise to the stratosphere and are broken apart by ultraviolet radiation, releasing chlorine atoms that catalytically destroy ozone molecules. They warned that continued CFC emissions could lead to significant ozone depletion, increasing risks of skin cancer and other ecological damage. Their findings were initially met with fierce opposition from chemical manufacturers like the Allied and DuPont corporations.

Nobel Prize and recognition

The validity of Rowland and Molina's theory was dramatically confirmed in the 1980s with the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole by scientists from the British Antarctic Survey. This empirical evidence galvanized the international community and led directly to the negotiation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987, a landmark global environmental treaty. For their prescient work, Rowland and Molina were jointly awarded the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, which they shared with Paul J. Crutzen, who had earlier elucidated the role of nitrogen oxides in ozone chemistry. Rowland also received numerous other honors, including the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement and the Japan Prize.

Later career and advocacy

Following the Nobel Prize, Rowland remained an active and influential voice in atmospheric science and environmental policy. He continued his research at the University of California, Irvine, where he served as the Donald Bren Research Professor of Chemistry, investigating other trace gases and their roles in atmospheric change. He was a frequent advisor to governments and international bodies, including the United Nations Environment Programme and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Rowland also became a prominent advocate for action on climate change, drawing parallels between the ozone depletion crisis and the challenges posed by increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Personal life and legacy

Rowland was married to fellow scientist Joan Rowland, with whom he had two children. Known to colleagues and students as "Sherry," he was described as a dedicated mentor and a humble individual who derived great satisfaction from the real-world impact of his scientific work. He died in 2012 from complications of Parkinson's disease at his home in Newport Beach, California. Rowland's legacy is profound; his research provided a foundational case study in how basic science can identify a global environmental crisis and how international cooperation, guided by scientific evidence, can enact effective solutions. The ongoing recovery of the ozone layer stands as a testament to his visionary work. Category:American chemists Category:Nobel laureates in Chemistry Category:Atmospheric scientists Category:1927 births Category:2012 deaths