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

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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.