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粒子的形成、氧化老化和云凝结核（CCN）活动有关的不确定性，从而为气候变化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活性将被用来表征和了解二次有机气溶胶（SOA）的形成/演变机制和产量从大气相关的前体气体氧化的羟基和过氧化氢自由基和臭氧。 还将研究大气相关有机化合物的多步多相氧化。 结果将提供必要的信息，以表征SOA的化学成分从给定的前体，并准确地代表他们的CCN proclivity.The主要研究者（PI）将积极参与由Gelfand家庭慈善信托基金资助的一项倡议，指导科学学生在四个波士顿市中心的高中，一个由TSIP概念（通过探究过程教学科学）指导的计划。 学生将在小组和一对一的环境中接受指导，目的是帮助他们准备科学博览会项目。 其中两所学校已经有科学展览会（纪念碑高中和工程学院）。 在另外两个国家，新闻机构将与教师和学生合作，帮助组织此类展览会。 潜在的科学讨论的载体将是当前的环境问题，特别侧重于大气层。

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.