Noval Experimental Techniques for the physical and chemical characterization of Nucleation mode Aerosol Particles

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The impact of aerosol particles on the Earth’s radiation budget, the complex multiphase chemistry of the atmosphere, ecosystem fluxes of nutrients or pollutants, and air quality is strongly dependent on particle number, size, chemical composition and their distribution within the atmosphere. Therefore, the relevant sources, sinks, transport mechanisms and transformation processes of aerosol particles need to be identified and quantified in order to improve our fundamental understanding of the atmospheric aerosol and to formulate adequate model parameterizations. This proposal aims at exploring innovative experimental techniques for the direct quantification of turbulent fluxes and the chemical composition of nucleation mode aerosol particles (less than 30 nm in diameter) in the lower atmospheric boundary layer. It is suggested to develop a miniaturized collection system for nucleation mode aerosol particles, and couple it to a field-portable ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometer for in-situ analysis of the aerosol chemical composition. The combination of the mass spectrometer and true eddy accumulation will yield unique aerosol flux measurement capabilities. Field deployment of these novel experimental techniques will contribute to an improved description of aerosol transport mechanisms and the atmospheric distribution of newly formed particles as well as a better understanding of gas-to-particle conversion processes, especially the relevance of organic species in secondary particle formation. Thus, this proposal will address fundamental scientific questions, e.g. the impact of aerosol particles on global climate, and important societal issues such as the design and implementation of effective control strategies and regulatory policies with regard to aerosol health effects.