West coast aerosol measurements using lidar

气溶胶在全球辐射平衡和云过程（因此气候变化）中发挥着重要作用，影响大气化学以及海洋和陆地生物地球化学过程，甚至作为微生物的载体。以颗粒物（PM）形式存在的气溶胶也会影响空气质量。 直到最近，加拿大西部的气溶胶污染被认为主要是当地造成的。然而，现在很明显，来自遥远来源的地壳尘埃、生物质燃烧羽流和人为气溶胶（燃烧过程产生的）对该区域的影响是间歇性的。主要来源包括：来自亚洲沙漠的沙尘;亚洲发电、工业和运输造成的空气污染;来自加州和俄勒冈州的森林火灾羽流;不列颠哥伦比亚省的当地野火羽流。拟议的研究描述了一种新颖而系统的策略，采用一套最先进的测量方法，旨在表征该地区气溶胶传输的规模和性质以及对人类健康和能见度的影响。该研究的基石是与加拿大环境部合作在UBC建立的新激光雷达设施。该仪器提供对整个大气层深度的气溶胶的连续测量，并提供在线真实的实时数据。这项研究将确定中远程气溶胶迁移的基线值，从而为评估趋势奠定基础。预计这些结果将大大有助于科学认识与气溶胶输送有关的气象过程和变化。 除了这种健全的科学知识的政策影响外，预计这项研究将为及时提供与气溶胶污染有关的公共信息和警报提供依据。

Aerosols play a significant role in the global radiation balance and cloud processes (hence climate change), influence atmospheric chemistry as well as oceanic and terrestrial biogeochemical processes, and even serve as carriers of microbes. Aerosol in the form of Particulate Matter (PM) also affects air quality. Until recently, aerosol pollution in western Canada was considered to be largely of local origin. However, it is now apparent that crustal dust, biomass burning plumes and anthropogenic aerosol (from combustion processes) originating from distant sources affect the region episodically. Major sources include; dust from Asian deserts; air pollution from power generation, industry and transportation in Asia; forest fire plumes from California and Oregon; local wild fire plumes in British Columbia. The proposed research describes a novel and systematic strategy employing a suite of state-of -the-art measurements designed to characterize the scale and nature of aerosol transport in the region and the impacts on human health and visibility. The cornerstone of the research is a new lidar facility established in collaboration with Environment Canada at UBC. This instrument provides continuous measurements of aerosol throughout the full depth of the atmosphere with data available in real time online. The research will establish the baseline values for medium and long range aerosol transport and in so doing establish the basis for assessment of trends. It is expected that these results will contribute significantly to scientific understanding of the meteorological processes and transformations associated with aerosol transport. In addition to the policy implications of such sound scientific knowledge, it is anticipated that this research will provide a basis for the provision of timely public information and warnings related to aerosol pollution.