CAREER: Emissions and Chemical Impacts of Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from Western United States Wildfires

这个职业项目将提高对美国西部野火中挥发性有机化合物(VOC)的来源和对大气影响的知识。据估计，生物质燃烧是全球第二大VOCs主要来源。VOCs作为臭氧和二次有机气溶胶的前体在大气中起着关键作用，并影响羟基自由基的水平，进而控制大多数空气污染物的寿命。这个项目将结合实验室实验数据，以及来自飞机和地面站的以前和新的现场测量数据，与3D化学运输模型相结合，以检查来自野火的VOCs的区域和全球影响。这项研究包括：(1)开展实验室实验，以改进使用质子转移反应飞行时间质谱仪识别和量化大气中呋喃的分析方法；(2)在密苏拉的一个长期监测点对VOCs和其他痕量气体进行新的地面测量，以更好地量化对美国西部与火灾有关的VOCs丰度和变异性的关键控制；(3)将呋喃和其他两种挥发性有机化合物的新化学和排放纳入GEOS-Chem化学传输模型(CTM)；以及(4)使用改进了火灾VOC表示的GEOS-Chem，以解释最近飞机和地面战役的以前和新的现场测量结果。该项目将在区域和全球范围内对VOCs的来源和野火造成的化学影响提供量化的新限制。教育和推广计划包括开发一个野火烟雾展览，在一个实际操作的科学中心建立一个微型空气质量监测站，以加强K-12学生对野火烟雾和空气污染的了解。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 CAREER project will improve knowledge about the sources and atmospheric impacts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from western U.S. wildfires. Biomass burning is estimated to be the second-largest primary sources of VOCs globally. VOCs play a key role in the atmosphere as precursors of ozone (O3) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA), and affect hydroxyl radical (OH) levels, that in turn control the lifetime of most air pollutants. This project will combine data from laboratory experiments, and previous and new field measurements from aircraft and ground stations, with a 3D chemical transport model to examine the regional and global impacts of VOCs from wildfires.This research includes tasks that: (1) carry out laboratory experiments to improve the analytical approach for identifying and quantifying atmospheric furans using Proton Transfer Reaction Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry; (2) perform new ground measurements for VOCs and other trace gases at a long-term monitoring site in Missoula, MT, to better quantify critical controls on the abundance and variability of fire-related VOCs in the western U.S.; (3) incorporate new chemistry and emissions for furans and two other VOCs in the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model (CTM); and (4) use the GEOS-Chem with improved fire VOC representation to interpret the previous and new in-situ measurements from recent aircraft and ground campaigns. The project will provide quantitative new constraints on VOCs' sources and chemical impacts from wildfires on a regional to global scale.The education and outreach plan includes the development of a wildfire smoke exhibit with a mini air quality monitoring station at a hands-on science center to enhance K-12 student learning about wildfire smoke and air pollution.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.