Developing a stronger understanding of aerosol sources and the impact of aqueous phase processing on coastal air quality

Abstract:

Atmospheric aerosols are produced by a variety of sources including emissions from cars and trucks, wildfires, ships, dust, and sea spray and play a significant role in impacting air pollution and regional climate. The ability of an aerosol to uptake water and undergo aqueous phase processing strongly depends on composition. On-line single particle mass spectrometry can provide insight into how particle composition impacts the degree of photochemical and aging processes atmospheric aerosols undergo. In particular, specific sulfur species including sulfate, hydroxymethanesulfate (HMS), and methanesulfonic acid (MSA) can serve as indicators of when an air mass has undergone aqueous phase processing. This presentation will describe recent field studies conducted at coastal sites to demonstrate how different aerosol sources and secondary processing impact coastal air quality.