Other Names

HCHO, CH2O

Definition

Formaldehyde (HCHO), a colorless, pungent, carcinogenic, and toxic gas which can irritate membranes and may increase risk of developing brain cancer. It is used chiefly as a disinfectant and preservative.
Formaldehyde is an indicator of anthropogenic pollution and biomass burning. In the atmosphere Formaldehyde is produced when Methane reacts with atmospheric hydroxyl (OH) in the troposphere. Formaldehyde is removed from the atmosphere by its photolysis (a major source of free radicals in the atmosphere) or by reaction with atmospheric hydroxyl (OH).

Applications

(1) Atmospheric Chemistry Models	(5) Tracer of Air Motions
(2) Air Quality	(6) stratosphere-troposphere exchange
(3) Monitoring of Biomass Burning	(7) Climate Change
(4) Health and Environment

GES DISC Datasets

Quick Search for 'Formaldehyde' with Mirador
Click on the corresponding 'WHOM access' links in the table below to access products containing specific parameter.

Parameter	Units	Platform /Instrument	Data
			Begin Date	End Date	WHOM Access	Doc
Vertical and Slant column Abundance of Fomaldehyde	molecules/cm2	Aura/OMI	2004-08-15	Current	OMHCHO.002	Y

Other sources for data

1. GOME