CAREER: From Cradle to Grave: Radiative Properties of Biomass Burning Aerosols

拟议的研究旨在系统地了解生物质燃烧气溶胶从新鲜排放到几天老化的基本光学和生命周期特性。气溶胶特性的变化将被量化为各种燃烧过程的函数，例如：燃烧阶段、燃料类型和水分含量；以及大气过程，如氧化，相对湿度和挥发性有机物的冷凝。本研究的意义在于提高我们对生物质燃烧气溶胶在直接辐射效应中所起作用的认识。目前的模型假设这些气溶胶是球形的，而这项研究将结合实验室和现场实验，重点研究生物质燃烧气溶胶的分形形状。这项研究有可能带来两个重要的社会效益：减少生物质燃烧气溶胶直接辐射强迫（DRF）效应的不确定性，以及开发通过基于互联网的学习加强K-12教育的模块。这项研究和教育计划利用华盛顿大学学校伙伴关系研究所（ISP）的资源，向代表性不足的少数族裔社区的K-12学生和教师提供外展服务。提出的研究结合了一个重要的理论组成部分，加上精心设计的实验室实验。目标是开发一个查找表（LUT），以取代目前使用的基于mie理论的建模工作。本研究提出了一个重要的努力，旨在调和预测折射率和不对称参数确定实验和使用精确的数字t矩阵代码。如果成功，这可能会导致对生物质燃烧气溶胶的物理和光学特性的革命性理解。具体来说，这一新知识可能有助于减少与生物质燃烧气溶胶造成的直接辐射强迫相关的不确定性。本研究产生的数据集将在全球和区域模拟工作中改进气溶胶辐射传输相互作用的参数化。

The proposed research seeks to develop a systematic understanding of the fundamental optical and life-cycle properties of biomass-burning aerosols from freshly emitted to several days of aging. The variations in aerosol properties will be quantified as a function of various combustion processes, such as: phase of burning, fuel type, and moisture content; as well as atmospheric processes such as oxidation, relative humidity and condensation of volatile organics. The significance of this research is to improve our understanding of the role that biomass-burning aerosols play in the direct radiative effects. Current models assume a spherical shape for these aerosols, whereas this research will combine laboratory and field experiments focused on the fractal shape of biomass-burning aerosols. This research has the potential to lead to two important societal benefits: reduced uncertainty in direct radiative forcing (DRF) effects from biomass-burning aerosols and the development of modules to enhance K-12 education through internet-based learning. This research and education plan uses the resources of Washington University's Institute for School Partnership (ISP), providing outreach to K-12 students and teachers in underrepresented minority communities.The proposed research combines a significant theoretical component coupled with well-conceived laboratory experiments. The goal is to develop a look-up-table (LUT) to replace the Mie-theory based modeling efforts currently in use. This study proposes a significant effort aimed at reconciling predicted refractive index and asymmetry parameter determined experimentally and using numerically exact T-matrix codes. If successful, this could lead to transformative understanding of the physical and optic properties of biomass-burning aerosols. Specifically this new knowledge may help reduce uncertainties associated with direct radiative forcing due to biomass-burning aerosols. Datasets resulting from this research will improve parameterization of aerosol radiative transfer interaction in global and regional modeling efforts.