Aerosol Instrumentation to Probe Atmospheric Processes and Mechanisms

气溶胶是大气中的凝聚相，通过非均相反应和平衡分配在大气过程和气候中起着关键作用。气溶胶的大小、数量和表面积等特性的测量是将新的大气测量与大气中的重要机制和过程联系起来的基础。这些特性只能使用研究级仪器进行适当测量。我们正在申请两种仪器，以建立一个全面的系统，用于测量对大气过程至关重要的各种大小的气溶胶：扫描迁移率粒子分光计和光学粒子分光计。这种仪器将使我们能够创新，并通过正在进行的实地观察和实验室测量实现新的发现，但由于当前系统故障或计划在未来5年内进行。例如，这一工具对于参与2023年的两个主要实地活动（SWAPIT期间的全国性活动和AEROMMA期间的国际性活动）至关重要，这些活动代表了范式转变的机会，以阐明对城市污染，气候及其相互作用的控制，以促进加拿大向净零气候排放过渡。大型实地活动是多样化的跨学科研究环境，为学术HQP培训和研究影响带来多方面的好处。该仪器的另一个应用是，进一步了解气溶胶在被称为“永久化学品"的全氟烷基物质全球扩散中的作用。只有使用所要求的设备，才有可能对大气机制和过程进行这种程度的深入了解，加拿大的决策者迫切需要这种深入了解。这项研究沿着其他正在进行的，计划中的和未来的项目将由PI VandenBoer和Young领导，他们是国际公认的环境分析化学专家，在利用气溶胶特性等基本测量方面具有高生产率的跟踪记录，再加上科学分析工具，以阐明大气过程和机制。培训和使用所要求的气溶胶仪器将是公平的所有层次的HQP从本科生到博士后研究人员。该培训将培养HQP在政府和行业法规所依赖的基本空气质量测量方面的技能，以大气过程为中心的基于发现的研究，以及参与国际实地活动并获得经验，从而导致会议演示，出版物和专业网络的发展。

Aerosols are the condensed phase in the atmosphere that play a critical role in atmospheric processes and climate through heterogeneous reactions and equilibrium partitioning. Measurements of aerosol properties such as size, number, and surface area are fundamental to linking novel atmospheric measurements to important mechanisms and processes in the atmosphere. These properties can only be measured properly using research grade instrumentation. We are requesting two instruments to create a comprehensive system for measuring all sizes of aerosol important to atmospheric processes: a scanning mobility particle spectrometer and optical particle spectrometer. This instrumentation will allow us to innovate and will enable new discoveries through field observations and laboratory measurements that are in progress, but interrupted due to current system failure, or scheduled to take place over the next 5 years. For example, this instrumentation will be crucial for participation in two major field campaigns in 2023 (nationally during SWAPIT and internationally during AEROMMA), which represent paradigm-shifting opportunities to elucidate controls on urban pollution, climate, and their interactions to facilitate Canada's transition to net-zero climate emissions. Large field campaigns are diverse interdisciplinary research environments that bring multifaceted benefits to academic HQP training and research impact. Another application of this instrumentation is in developing understanding of the role of aerosols in the global dispersion of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) known as `forever chemicals'. This level of insight into atmospheric mechanisms and processes is only possible with the requested equipment and is urgently needed by policy makers in Canada. This research along with additional ongoing, planned, and future projects will be led by PIs VandenBoer and Young who are internationally recognized experts in environmental analytical chemistry with highly productive track records of utilizing fundamental measurements like aerosol properties, coupled with state-of-the-science analytical tools, to elucidate atmospheric processes and mechanisms. Training on and use of the requested aerosol instrumentation will be equitable for HQP of all levels from undergraduate students to postdoctoral researchers. This training will develop HQP skills in fundamental air quality measurements relied upon in government and industry regulations, discovery-based research centred on atmospheric processes, as well as participation and experience in international field campaigns, resulting in conference presentations, publications, and development of professional networks.