Novel Approaches in Measuring Atmospheric Aerosol Particles

Departments: Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Time: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 - 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Type: Seminar Series
Presenter: Professor Tamara Pinterich; Environmental and Climate Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Room/Office: Mason 107
Location:
9 Hillhouse Avenue
New Haven, CT 06511
United States
See map: Google Maps

Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

Novel Approaches in Measuring Atmospheric Aerosol Particles

Professor Tamara Pinterich
Environmental and Climate Science Department
Brookhaven National Laboratory

Abstract: Atmospheric formation of nanoparticles is frequently observed in field studies and is thought to be one major source controlling aerosol particle number size distributions on global scale. These nanoparticles can grow to sizes where they can form cloud droplets. Thereby they influence microphysics, lifetime and coverage of clouds, which ultimately affect global climate. Understanding the interactions between atmospheric aerosols and clouds require knowledge of their size, number concentration and hygroscopicity.

In this talk three newly developed instruments and their applicability to atmospheric aerosol studies will be presented. (1) A condensation particle counter capable of size-resolved number concentration measurements of newly formed clusters down to 1-2nm. (2) An aircraft-deployable Aerosol Mobility Imaging system (AMI) for real-time measurements of aerosol size distributions ranging from 10nm to 500nm, and (3) a relative humidity AMI system, that enables rapid measurements of particle hygroscopicity.

Host: Prof. Juan de la Mora

Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Mason Lab 107- 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Refreshments 2:15pm