Sulfur and Oxygen Isotopic Signatures for Sulfur Dioxide Oxidation Mechanisms

University Of California-San Diego, La Jolla CA

Investigators

Abstract

Laboratory measurements will be carried out addressing isotope effects in reactions relevant to atmospheric processes, including gas and solution phase oxidation of SO2 (sulfur dioxide), surface catalyzed oxidation of sulfur compounds, and the oxidation of sulfur compounds with NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) and NO3 (nitrate radical). The laboratory studies are needed to better understand isotopic analysis (sulfur and oxygen) that the PI and his group have carried out on atmospheric sulfate and nitrate aerosol samples. The PI is using isotopic data to quantify the relative contributions of the different atmospheric sulfur oxidation pathways. This is of fundamental importance to understanding the chemistry of aerosols and their impact on climate.