HBCU-Excellence in Research: Radiative Effects of Biomass Burning Aerosols Laboratory and Field Measurements and Modeling of Climate and Health Impacts

该项目旨在提高对生物质燃烧排放及其对空气质量和气候影响的了解。这项工作将专注于在相对湿度范围内燃烧燃料。进一步的实验将探索这些排放中的颗粒的光吸收特性，以及当颗粒与矿物粉尘接触时，或者当它们在大气中老化时发生反应时，这些特性如何变化。最后，研究将调查这些粒子对云形成的影响。所有这些信息都将有助于提高建立大气组成模型的能力。该项目还将通过与科罗拉多州立大学(CSU)发展可持续的研究合作，加强两所历史上一直是黑人的学院和大学(HBCU)的大气化学和物理研究和培训能力，这两所大学是北卡罗来纳农工大学(NCAT)和霍华德大学(HU)--仅有的四所HBCU中有大气科学项目的两所。具体的研究活动侧重于了解生物质燃烧气溶胶的辐射特性，并通过参与实验室和实地活动模拟其对气候和健康的影响。这一努力将加强与多所大学、国家实验室和私营公司的联系，同时为新一代科学家提供建立跨文化关系的机会。该项目的主要目标是：1.研究相对湿度在决定生物质燃烧产生的气溶胶光学性质中的作用；2.确定矿物粉尘或生物质燃烧成分对内部混合颗粒光学性质的影响更大；3.调查生物质燃烧产生的颗粒物排放的潜在重要性；4.利用GEOS-Chem化学传输模型量化生物质燃烧气溶胶的辐射和健康影响，5.为学生提供参与准备和分析生物质燃烧实地活动数据的机会。除了培训几名研究生外，该项目还将提高NCAT和HU的研究能力。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to improve understanding of the emissions of biomass burning and how this impacts air quality and climate. The work will focus on burning of fuels under a range of relative humidities. Further experiments will probe the light-absorbing properties of particles in these emissions and how those properties change when particles come in contact with mineral dust or when they undergo reactions as they age in the atmosphere. Finally, the research will investigate the impact that these particles have on cloud formation. All of this information will be useful for improving the ability to model the composition of the atmosphere.The project will also enhance the atmospheric chemistry and physics research and training capacity at two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), North Carolina A&T State University (NCAT) and Howard University (HU) - two of only four HBCUs with a program in Atmospheric Sciences - by developing sustainable research collaborations with Colorado State University (CSU), a leading institution in Atmospheric Science. The specific research activities focus on understanding radiative properties of biomass burning aerosols and modeling their impacts on climate and health through involvement in laboratory and field campaigns. This effort will strengthen connections with multiple universities, national laboratories, and private companies while providing opportunities for a new generation of scientists to build cross-cultural relationships. The activities will enable underrepresented minorities to participate in large field measurement activities, to attend classes at a leading atmospheric science institution (CSU), and to work on aircraft based measurement systems.The primary objectives of the project are to:1. study the role of relative humidity in determining the optical properties of aerosols produced from biomass burning, 2. determine whether the mineral dust or biomass burning components influence the optical properties of internally mixed particles more,3. investigate the potential importance of particulate emissions from biomass burning,4. quantify radiative and health impacts of biomass burning aerosols using the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model, and 5. provide students the opportunity to participate in preparation for and analysis of data from biomass burning field campaigns.In addition to training several graduate students, this project will increase the research capacity at both NCAT and HU.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.