Collaborative Research: Laboratory Studies of Formation, Aging and Physicochemical Properties of Atmospheric Organic Particulate Matter

该项目的总体目标是减少与有机气溶胶颗粒的形成、氧化老化和云凝结核（CCN）活性相关的不确定性，从而为气候变化的建模和预测提供更可靠的基础。一个独特的实验室设置来表征气溶胶颗粒的组成、大小、形态和密度，并测量这些颗粒的CCN活性，将用于表征和理解二次有机气溶胶（SOA）的形成/演化机制，以及由羟基、羟基自由基和臭氧氧化的大气相关前体气体产生的产量。还将研究大气相关有机化合物的多步非均相氧化。结果将提供必要的信息，以表征给定前体的SOA化学成分，并准确地表示它们的CCN倾向。主要研究人员（pi）将积极参与由Gelfand家庭慈善信托基金资助的一项倡议，指导四所波士顿内城区高中的理科生，该计划以TSIP概念（通过探究过程教学科学）为指导。学生们将以小组和一对一的方式接受指导，目的是帮助他们准备科学展览项目。其中两所学校（纪念碑高中和工程学院）已经举办了科学博览会。在另外两个地方，pi将与老师和学生合作，帮助组织这样的博览会。潜在的科学讨论的载体将是当前的环境问题，特别关注大气。

The overall goal of this project is to reduce uncertainties related to the formation, oxidative aging, and cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) activity of organic aerosol particles, thereby providing a more reliable base for modeling and predicting climate change. A unique laboratory setup to characterize the composition, size, morphology, and density of aerosol particles and to measure CCN activity of these particles will be used to characterize and understand secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation/evolution mechanisms and yields from atmospherically relevant precursor gases oxidized by hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals and ozone. Multi-step heterogeneous oxidation of atmospherically relevant organic compounds will also be studied. The results will provide information necessary to characterize chemical composition of SOA from given precursors and to accurately represent their CCN proclivity.The principal investigators (PIs) will actively participate in an initiative funded by the Gelfand Family Charitable Trust to mentor science students in four Boston inner city high schools, a program guided by the TSIP concept (Teaching Science through the Inquiry Process). Students will be mentored in small groups and in one-on-one settings with the aim of helping them prepare science fair projects. Two of the schools have science fairs already (Monument High School and The Engineering School). In the other two, working with the teachers and students, the PIs will help organize such fairs. The vehicle for potential science discussions will be current environmental issues with a specific focus on the atmosphere.