Eleanor C. Browne

My group uses a combination of lab experiments, field measurements, and chemical transport modeling to study the fate of reduced nitrogen compounds. Reduced nitrogen compounds such as ammonia, amines, and amides are emitted from various anthropogenic and biogenic sources and may also be formed via secondary processes. Although measurements of these compounds have proven to be technically difficult, these types of compounds have been detected in the gas-phase, particle-phase, and cloud and fog droplets. With recent improvements in the sensitivity and time-resolution of measurement techniques, there has been an increased interest in these compounds and in the role that they play in climate and air quality relevant processes such as new particle formation and growth.

My group is interested in continuing to characterize and improve the measurement techniques for detection of reduced nitrogen species and in using these techniques for field and lab measurements. Our lab-based research uses flow tubes and chambers to investigate the chemistry of amine and amide oxidation. Current projects in the lab are focused on understanding how the chemical composition and morphology of particles affect amine uptake and on characterizing the gas- and particle-phase oxidation reactions of amines and amides.

The group also uses chemical transport modeling to investigate the regional impacts of the processes measured in the lab and field. Current work is focused on improving the representation of reduced nitrogen chemistry in these models and investigating how implementation of this chemistry influences ozone production, particularly in biomass burning plumes and near agricultural areas.