Equipment for investigating the reactivity and physicochemical properties of model atmospheric organic-coated aerosols

低层大气由大量被称为大气气溶胶的微小颗粒组成。气溶胶改变了到达地球表面的太阳光的数量，改变了云的形成和寿命，也为大气中的化学反应提供了媒介，因此导致了气候变化。因此，非常有必要在分子水平上更好地了解气溶胶对气候系统的影响。大气科学家通过实验研究来解决与气溶胶相关的科学问题，这些实验研究需要使用在大气代表性条件下运行的模型气溶胶系统和分析技术。大气中气溶胶颗粒的处理和老化是它们与大气氧化剂反应的结果。这种处理改变了气溶胶的物理和化学性质。*这项工具赠款中要求的资金将用于购买设备，以表征模型气溶胶颗粒，并研究其与臭氧和氮氧化物的表面反应。该设备由表面积分析仪、漫反射傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(DRIFTS)附件和气体处理组件的泵送系统组成。这个系统出现在我在劳里埃的实验室，将扩大大气化学研究项目的能力，并将为学生提供使用多种仪器的实践经验。这些研究的结果将增加我们对气溶胶老化过程及其对全球气候的整体影响的了解。

The lower atmosphere comprises a large concentration of minute particles known as atmospheric aerosols. Aerosols contribute to climate change as they modify the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth's surface, alter formation and lifetime of clouds, and also provide media for chemical reactions in the atmosphere.  There is a great need to better understand aerosols' impact on the climate system on a molecular level.  Atmospheric scientists address scientific questions related to aerosols through experimental studies that demand the use of model aerosol systems and analytical techniques that operate under atmospherically-representative conditions. The processing and aging of aerosol particles in the atmosphere occur as a result of their reactions with atmospheric oxidants.  Such processing alters the physical and chemical properties of aerosols.  The funding requested in this Tools grant will be used to acquire equipment for characterizing model aerosol particles and studying their surface reactions with ozone and nitrogen oxides. The equipment consists of a surface area analyzer, an accessory for diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and a pumping system for the gas handling assembly. The presence of this system in my laboratory at Laurier will expand the capabilities of the atmospheric chemistry research program, and will offer students hands-on-experience using a number of instruments. Results obtained from these studies will increase our understanding of the aging process of aerosols and their overall impact on the global climate.