MRI: Acquisition of an Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry Mobile Laboratory

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A mobile trailer with a suite of instruments for field research on atmospheric aerosols will be acquired. This mobile laboratory will allow simultaneous measurements of gas phase species, particulate phase chemical and physical properties, and boundary layer dynamics in an integrated approach for aerosol studies. The major research instruments to be acquired are an aerosol LIDAR to measure vertical profiles of aerosols and clouds, a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer to measure particle size distributions, a Particle in Liquid Sampler/Ion Chromatograph for collection and chemical analysis of water-soluble ionic components, and a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer for the quantification of gas phase precursors of ozone and aerosols. Supporting instruments to measure key chemical species (ozone, carbon monoxide, reactive nitrogen, and sulfur dioxide) and a basic weather station will also be included. The mobile laboratory will be used in field experiments to study the relationship between precursor gases, their chemical transformations, and the resulting impacts on atmospheric oxidants and aerosols. These measurements address questions relevant to global climate change, feedback mechanisms between the biosphere and atmosphere, regional atmospheric chemistry, and impacts of the deposition of anthropogenic emissions and photoproducts on ecosystem health. The mobile laboratory will provide critical infrastructure for field research projects at Washington State University and in collaboration with others related to the impact of biogenic, urban, and agricultural emissions. The resulting data will support a detailed description of atmospheric dynamics and chemistry for comparison with chemical transport models of oxidants and particulate matter. The laboratory will be used for the education and training of undergraduate and graduate students, and should also help with student recruitment.