Mid-scale RI-1 (M1:IP): Atmospheric Science and Chemistry mEasurement NeTwork (ASCENT)

这个中型研究基础设施- 1奖是为了建立大气科学和化学测量网络（ASCENT）。ASCENT将首次提供高时间分辨率的长期测量大气微粒（即气溶胶）的特性。气溶胶通过与阳光的直接相互作用及其对云的影响，对气候产生重大影响。气溶胶还造成空气质量差，这是一个重大的健康问题。该合同将在美国各地建立一个由12个站点组成的网络，配备最先进的仪器来表征气溶胶的特性。ASCENT的数据将使研究人员能够解决有关气溶胶成分和丰度如何变化的各种问题，例如电力生产（从煤炭到天然气再到可再生能源）和交通运输（从汽油到电动汽车）的现代化如何影响空气污染和气候相关变量。ASCENT还将使美国研究人员在全球研究环境中保持竞争力。在教育和外联方面，该项目为研究生和本科生制定了具体的招聘、指导、培训和职业发展计划，重点关注代表性不足的群体。ASCENT的一个地点位于部落土地上，该项目将培训部落空气质量工作人员，并向感兴趣的部落成员进行外展。ASCENT网络由遍布美国的12个站点组成，将提供气溶胶化学成分和物理特性的全面、高时间分辨率、长期特征。这些站点战略性地位于农村、城市和偏远地区，这些地区已有大气监测基础设施。每个站点将配备四种先进的仪器：气溶胶化学形态监测仪（ACSM，非难熔气溶胶），Xact（痕量金属），Aethalometer（黑/棕色碳）和扫描迁移率粒度仪（SMPS，气溶胶数量大小分布和浓度）。ASCENT的测量能力在低频率和低时间分辨率的过滤器测量和精细气溶胶化学成分和性质的实时测量之间表现出阶跃变化。ASCENT响应了2016年NASEM“大气化学的未来”报告和2020年政府问责局（GAO）报告中的建议。ASCENT将实现广泛的新的和令人兴奋的研究能力，例如推进对大气气溶胶的基本过程水平的理解，以响应基础设施，能源系统和土地利用/覆盖的变化，限制气溶胶-辐射相互作用和气候反馈的不确定性，揭示导致其不利健康影响的特定气溶胶类型和特性，以及改进化学运输模型。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Mid-scale Research Infrastructure – 1 award is for the establishment of the Atmospheric Science and Chemistry mEasurement NeTwork (ASCENT). ASCENT will provide the first high time-resolution, long-term measurements of the properties of atmospheric particulates, known as aerosols. Aerosols have a significant impact on climate through direct interaction with sunlight and their impact on clouds. Aerosols also contribute to poor air quality which is a significant health concern. This award will establish a network of 12 sites around the United States, outfitted with state-of-the-art instruments for characterizing the properties of aerosols. Data from ASCENT will allow researchers to address a variety of questions about how the composition and abundance of aerosols are changing, such as how the modernization of electrical production (coal to natural gas to renewable) and transportation (gasoline to electric vehicles) are impacting air pollution and climate-relevant variables. ASCENT will also allow US researchers to remain competitive in a global research environment. On the education and outreach side, the project has specific recruitment, mentoring, training, and career development plans for graduate and undergraduate students, with an emphasis on underrepresented groups. One of the ASCENT locations is on tribal land and the project will train tribal air quality staff and perform outreach to interested tribal members. The ASCENT network consists of twelve sites across the United States that will provide a comprehensive, high time-resolution, long-term characterization of aerosol chemical composition and physical properties. The sites are strategically located in rural, urban, and remote sites that have pre-existing infrastructure for atmospheric monitoring. Each site will be equipped with four advanced instruments: an Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM, non-refractory aerosols), Xact (trace metals), Aethalometer (black/brown carbon), and Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS, aerosol number size distribution and concentration). The measurement capability of ASCENT represents a step change between infrequent and low time-resolution filter measurements, and real-time measurements of fine aerosol chemical composition and properties. ASCENT is responsive to recommendations in the 2016 NASEM “Future of Atmospheric Chemistry” report and a 2020 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. ASCENT will enable a wide range of new and exciting research capabilities, such as advancing fundamental process-level understanding of atmospheric aerosols in response to changes in infrastructure, energy systems, and land use/coverage, constraining uncertainties in aerosol-radiation interactions and climate feedbacks, unraveling specific aerosol types and properties responsible for their adverse health effects, and improving chemical transport models.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.