Resolving Source Contributions to Atmospheric Deposition

这项研究项目的主要目的是提高对含氮污染物如何从大气中沉积到水体中的理解。该项目通过解决水质和生态系统健康问题，直接造福社会。这些水质问题包括低氧水平和酸性条件，可导致水生系统的生命损失。本研究为改善流域管理提供了有益的工具。研究人员正在试图证实，这些污染物的排放源可能距离受影响的水体数百英里远。该项目支持培养一名博士生，并让化学工程专业的本科生参与研究和社区外展活动。此外，本科生通过与康涅狄格州州立公园和技术高中的合作伙伴关系参与本科研究经验和服务学习项目。该项目通过监测在几所高中和州立公园举行的活动来吸引社区参与。大气化学输运模式与流域模式相结合，将解释跨流域系统多个组成部分的源解析污染物输运。研究人员正在用康涅狄格河流域的流域模型研究不同流域和区域联系的沉积估计。这个研究项目的一个目标是通过在两个相互作用的地球系统：大气和水圈之间建立一个重要的源解决桥梁来改变流域和生态系统管理。这项研究通过提供对全国流域影响的综合评估和对空气污染对土壤和水质影响的总体估计，代表了向前迈出的重要一步。该项目的成果通过解决水质和生态系统健康问题提供了社会效益。这些水质问题包括对渔业产生负面影响的缺氧和可能导致水生系统生命丧失的酸化。本研究也为改善流域管理规划的制定提供了有益的工具。

The primary objective of this research project is to improve understanding of how pollutants containing nitrogen deposit into water bodies from the atmosphere. This project directly benefits society by addressing water quality and ecosystem health concerns. These water quality concerns include low oxygen levels and acidic conditions that can result in loss of life in aquatic systems.  This research provides a beneficial tool for improving watershed management. The researchers are seeking to confirm that the emission source for these pollutants can be hundreds of miles away from the water body that is affected. This project supports the training of a Ph.D. student and also engages undergraduate chemical engineering students in research and community outreach activities. In addition, undergraduate students participate in undergraduate research experiences and service-learning projects through partnerships with Connecticut state parks and technical high schools. The project engages the community through monitoring activities that take place at several high schools and state parks.An atmospheric chemical transport model coupled with a watershed model will account for source-resolved pollutant transport across multiple components of the watershed system. The researchers are studying deposition estimates to different watersheds and regional linking with a watershed model over the Connecticut River Watershed. A goal of this research project is to transform watershed and ecosystem management by creating an essential source-resolved bridge between two interacting earth systems: the atmosphere and hydrosphere. This research represents a substantial step forward by providing a comprehensive evaluation of impacts to watersheds throughout the country and developing overarching estimates of the impacts of air pollution on soil and water quality. Results of this project provide societal benefits by addressing water quality and ecosystem health concerns. These water quality concerns include hypoxia which negatively impacts fisheries and acidification which can result in loss of life in aquatic systems. This research also provides a beneficial tool for improving watershed management plan development.