Evolution in Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation in Urban Atmosphere

University Of Colorado At Boulder, Boulder CO

Investigators

Abstract

This project is focused on an investigation of the atmospheric chemistry processes that lead to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in the urban atmosphere. The research will address the key precursors or gases that lead to the formation of SOA and their sources and volatility ranges. The information developed will help to predict the evolution of urban SOA that leads to air pollution and the design of effective mitigation strategies. The science questions that will be addressed are: (1) What are the most important SOA precursors in urban air? (2) What are the sources of the most important SOA precursors? (3) What are the SOA formation pathways for the most important precursors? (4) Has SOA chemistry changed over the past decade? and (5) Can the description of urban SOA in chemistry-transport models be improved? A 6-week field campaign will be conducted in the Los Angeles area in Summer 2022. Comparison of the data with previous studies, including the CalNex study in 2010, will show how the SOA precursors and chemistry have evolved over the last decade. The project includes training for several graduate and undergraduate students. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.