HBCU-Excellence in Research: Radiative Effects of Biomass Burning Aerosols Laboratory and Field Measurements and Modeling of Climate and Health Impacts

该项目旨在提高人们对生物质燃烧产生的排放物及其对空气质量和气候的影响的认识。这项工作将侧重于在一定相对湿度下燃烧燃料。进一步的实验将探测这些排放物中颗粒的吸光特性，以及当颗粒与矿物粉尘接触或在大气中老化时发生反应时，这些特性是如何变化的。最后，研究将调查这些粒子对云形成的影响。所有这些信息都将有助于提高模拟大气成分的能力。该项目还将通过与大气科学领先机构科罗拉多州立大学（CSU）开展可持续的研究合作，提高两所传统黑人学院和大学（HBCUs）的大气化学和物理研究和培训能力，这两所大学是仅有的四所拥有大气科学项目的HBCUs中的两所，即北卡罗来纳a&t州立大学（NCAT）和霍华德大学（HU）。具体的研究活动侧重于了解生物质燃烧气溶胶的辐射特性，并通过参与实验室和实地活动模拟其对气候和健康的影响。这项工作将加强与多所大学、国家实验室和私营公司的联系，同时为新一代科学家提供建立跨文化关系的机会。这些活动将使未被充分代表的少数民族能够参加大型实地测量活动，在一个主要的大气科学机构（CSU）上课，并从事基于飞机的测量系统的工作。该项目的主要目标是：1。2.研究相对湿度在确定生物质燃烧产生的气溶胶光学性质中的作用。2 .确定矿物粉尘或生物质燃烧成分是否对内部混合颗粒的光学性质影响更大；调查生物质燃烧产生的颗粒物排放的潜在重要性；4 .使用GEOS-Chem化学运输模型量化生物质燃烧气溶胶的辐射和健康影响；为学生提供参与准备和分析生物质燃烧现场活动数据的机会。除了培养几名研究生外，该项目还将增加NCAT和HU的研究能力。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to improve understanding of the emissions of biomass burning and how this impacts air quality and climate. The work will focus on burning of fuels under a range of relative humidities. Further experiments will probe the light-absorbing properties of particles in these emissions and how those properties change when particles come in contact with mineral dust or when they undergo reactions as they age in the atmosphere. Finally, the research will investigate the impact that these particles have on cloud formation. All of this information will be useful for improving the ability to model the composition of the atmosphere.The project will also enhance the atmospheric chemistry and physics research and training capacity at two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), North Carolina A&T State University (NCAT) and Howard University (HU) - two of only four HBCUs with a program in Atmospheric Sciences - by developing sustainable research collaborations with Colorado State University (CSU), a leading institution in Atmospheric Science. The specific research activities focus on understanding radiative properties of biomass burning aerosols and modeling their impacts on climate and health through involvement in laboratory and field campaigns. This effort will strengthen connections with multiple universities, national laboratories, and private companies while providing opportunities for a new generation of scientists to build cross-cultural relationships. The activities will enable underrepresented minorities to participate in large field measurement activities, to attend classes at a leading atmospheric science institution (CSU), and to work on aircraft based measurement systems.The primary objectives of the project are to:1. study the role of relative humidity in determining the optical properties of aerosols produced from biomass burning, 2. determine whether the mineral dust or biomass burning components influence the optical properties of internally mixed particles more,3. investigate the potential importance of particulate emissions from biomass burning,4. quantify radiative and health impacts of biomass burning aerosols using the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model, and 5. provide students the opportunity to participate in preparation for and analysis of data from biomass burning field campaigns.In addition to training several graduate students, this project will increase the research capacity at both NCAT and HU.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.