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The Effect of Cirrus Clouds on Climate and Chemistry

EPA Grant Number: U915367
Title: The Effect of Cirrus Clouds on Climate and Chemistry
Investigators: Prenni, Anthony J.
Institution: University of Colorado at Boulder
EPA Project Officer: Just, Theodore J.
Project Period: September 1, 1998 through January 1, 2001
Project Amount: $51,352
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (1998)
Research Category: Academic Fellowships , Fellowship - Atmospheric Sciences , Air Quality and Air Toxics

Description:

Objective:

The objectives of this research project are to: (1) measure the efficiency of soot as a heterogeneous nucleus for ice formation; and (2) improve the ability of atmospheric models to determine the effect of soot on cirrus cloud formation.

Approach:

An experimental technique for measuring heterogeneous ice nucleation on soot and sulfuric acid-coated soot particles has been designed. For these experiments, a fluidized bed has been built to generate a constant output (approximately 105 particles per cm3) of dry, solid soot particles in the sub-µm size range. Particles generated using the fluidized bed are coated with sulfuric acid using a linear temperature drop oven. Using this method, solid soot particles and liquid sulfuric acid particles pass through a flow tube oven where high temperature (400°C) vaporizes the sulfuric acid but not the soot. As the aerosol cools, a linear temperature gradient across the oven ensures that each solid particle becomes coated with sulfuric acid, and that sulfuric acid does not homogeneously nucleate. The soot/sulfuric acid particles are exposed to a predetermined amount of water vapor to create a soot/sulfuric acid aerosol of desired composition. The aerosol passes into a temperature-controlled flow tube where ice nucleation from the mixed aerosol can be monitored using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy at tropospheric temperatures and humidities. From these experiments, we will determine the efficiency of soot as a heterogeneous nucleus for ice.

Supplemental Keywords:

fellowship, cirrus clouds, climate, soot, nucleus, ice formation, atmospheric models, particles. , Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Air, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Analytical Chemistry, Atmospheric Sciences, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, climate impacts, sulfate aerosols, cirrus clouds effects, climate and chemistry, cirrus cloud

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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