Electron-beam Analysis of Individual Aerosol Particles: Applications to Atmospheric Chemistry

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The project will employ automated electron-beam instruments to determine the chemical compositions, sizes, and shapes of individual particles from tropospheric aerosols. Such particles are important because of their impact on solar radiation balance and climatic stability of the atmosphere. Samples from the mid-troposphere and planetary boundary layer will be obtained from remote sites, primarily in the North Pacific and Arctic regions, in order to study several significant aspects of global tropospheric chemistry. Resulting data will allow identification of component particle types and will be applied to problems such as long-range transport of particles and the nature of Arctic haze. Methods for unattended, automated analysis of individual particles using the scanning electron microscope and electron microprobe will be modified to enhance the routine analysis of submicron particles. Advances in the analytical methods combined with the selected aerosol studies will result in better definition of the particle sources and new insights into the role of particles in the troposphere.