Atmospheric aerosol particles play a role in many environmental problems
Atmospheric aerosol particles play a role in many environmental problems; among these are climate change and the health effects of air pollution. To understand and assess the effects that particles have, we must understand how the particles form, grow, and are removed from the atmosphere. We must also understand how molecules are transferred into and out of the particles and what chemical reactions those molecules might undergo while in the particles. My research interests are in the full range of these multifaceted processes, with a focus on fundamental science rather than environmental effects.
This work requires a combination of experimental techniques drawn from both chemical kinetics and aerosol physics. The chemical kinetics experiments can be either in the gas phase, with suspended aerosol particles as one of the reactants, or in the liquid phase with the object of examining the reactions that might occur within particles. The aerosol physics aspect of the work involves the generation, modification, and sizing of submicrometer aerosol particles. These techniques can be used to produce a monodisperse aerosol for kinetics experiments, or to measure the formation and growth of particles in laboratory nucleation experiments, or to measure the size distribution and physical properties of particles in the atmosphere.
At present, research in my group is focused on particle formationand growth resulting from the oxidation of organic compounds. My group has been involved in field measurements, both to gain insight into particle formation and growth processes in the atmosphere and to obtain data on the physical properties of atmospheric particles.