A novel mass spectrometer for nucleation mode aerosol particles
O 4.2 in Climate change research
15.04.2010, 13:45-14:00, H13
Aerosol particles modify the chemical reactivity of the atmosphere, degrade atmospheric visibility, and affect human health. Furthermore, they have an impact on ecosystem fluxes of nutrients and pollutants and play an important role in the atmospheric radiation budget and the Earth's climate. In order to understand these effects, detailed information on particle formation and transformation within the atmosphere as well as transport of aerosol particles is required. In forest ecosystems, oxidation products of biogenically emitted volatile organic compounds (BVOC) are thought to contribute significantly to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. However, formation and growth processes of these ultrafine particles are not fully understood. Novel experimental techniques are required to study the chemical composition and turbulent transport of nucleation mode particles less than 30 nm in diameter. A miniaturized collection system for nucleation mode aerosol particles is currently developed, and will be coupled to a field-portable time-of-flight mass spectrometer for in-situ analysis of the aerosol chemical composition. Future field deployment of the instrument will contribute to an improved description of aerosol transport mechanisms and a better understanding of gas-to-particle conversion processes involving organic compounds.
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