Measuring Sulfuric Acid Nucleation Potential to Develop a Generalized, Semi-Empirical Nucleation Model for the Atmosphere

该项目的目标是全面研究复杂的气体混合物如何与硫酸反应形成新的颗粒，并开发一个简单的框架和模型来预测这一过程。新模型将粒子的形成建立在气体混合物特性的基础上，而不是一套完整的化学反应。还将开发一种补充仪器来测量混合物形成新颗粒的潜力。该模型和测量套件的组合将简化大尺度大气模型中颗粒形成的表示，以一种经济实惠且鲁棒的方法。这将提供对粒子形成的见解-现有大气模型中最大的不确定性之一。粒子的形成会影响其他重要的过程，包括光的传输和吸收以及云的形成和性质。该项目将直接支持一名女初级教员，一名研究生，以及将粒子形成概念纳入一系列针对小学生的大气化学讲习班。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的学术价值和更广泛的影响评审标准。

The goal of this project is to holistically examine how complex mixtures of gases react with sulfuric acid to form new particles and to develop a simple framework and model for predicting this process. The new model will particle formation on the basis of characteristics of the gaseous mixture, rather than a complete set of chemical reactions. A complementary instrument will be developed measure the potential of a mixture to form new particles as well. The combination of this model and measurement suite will simplify representation of particle formation in large scale atmospheric models in an affordable and robust method. This will provide insights into particle formation - one of the greatest uncertainties in existing atmospheric models. Particles formation impacts other important processes including the transmission and absorption of light and cloud formation and properties.The project will directly support a female junior faculty member, one graduate student, and the incorporation of particle formation concepts into a series of atmospheric chemistry workshops for elementary school students.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.