CAREER: The Atmospheric Chemistry of Ice and Snow

首席研究员将开展一项实验室研究计划，旨在更好地理解和量化微量气体与冰雪的相互作用。对这些相互作用的定量物理理解对于预测气候变化对大气成分的影响、解释冰芯化学记录以及模拟大气化学至关重要。重点将放在极性光化学的几个关键气体：甲醛，过氧化氢，亚硝酸和过氧硝酸。主要工具将是：(1)冰壁流管反应器，结合用于定量痕量气体的化学电离质谱法，以及(2)在不同成分的冰表面探测准液体层（QLL）和准盐水层（QBL）的表面特异性技术椭偏仪。该项目的更广泛影响部分将包括一名博士后、一名研究生和一名K-12科学教育工作者的参与。教育/外展将有三个主要重点：(1)“大气科学”，一个双语（英语和西班牙语）互动网站，旨在向学生、家庭和教育工作者传授空气污染、气候变化和其他大气科学主题；(2)与纽约市地区K-12科学教育工作者建立研究和课程开发伙伴关系；(3)与纽约市公立学校经济条件较差的学生进行实验室活动，这些学生来自科学和工程领域代表性不足的群体。

The principal investigator will carry out a laboratory research program aimed at better understanding and quantifying interactions of trace gases with ice and snow. A quantitative physical understanding of these interactions is critical for predicting the effects of climate change on atmospheric composition, for the interpretation of ice core chemical records, and for modeling atmospheric chemistry. Emphasis will be on several gases key to polar photochemistry: formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, nitrous acid, and peroxynitric acid. The principal tools will be (1) a flow tube reactor with ice-coated walls coupled with chemical ionization mass spectrometry for quantification of trace gases, and (2) the surface-specific technique ellipsometry to probe quasi-liquid layers (QLL) and quasi-brine layers (QBL) at ice surfaces of various compositions.The broader impacts component of this project will include involvement of one post-doc, one graduate student, and a K-12 science educator. Education/outreach will have three major thrusts: (1) "Science of the Atmosphere", a bilingual (English and Spanish) interactive web site designed to teach students, families and educators about air pollution, climate change, and other atmospheric science topics, (2) a research and curriculum development partnership with a New York City area K-12 science educator, and (3) laboratory activities with economically disadvantaged New York City public school students from groups that are underrepresented in science and engineering.