This project will provide measurements of the optical and chemical properties of aerosol particles on the NSF C-130 aircraft during the 2006 Megacities Impacts on Regional and Global Environments (MIRAGE) Campaign to be conducted in Mexico City and the Intercontinental and Megacity Pollution Experiment (IMPEX). The instrument suite includes a Condensation Nuclei Counter (CNC), a Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP-2) to determine black carbon mass, aerosol size, and organic coatings, a Photoacoustic Absorption and Scattering Spectrometer (PASS) to measure aerosol scattering and absorption, an aerosol impaction collector for post-flight analysis using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and electron microscopy, which will provide chemical information. In addition, during the MIRAGE project, aerosol measurements will be conducted at a ground-based site downwind of Mexico City.

The comprehensive data obtained on aerosol properties will be used to observe the transport and transformation of the aerosols in the outflow region of a megacity, and air masses that have undergone long-range transport across the Pacific. The data will be used to validate chemical transport models. This will provide new insights on the effect of pollutant emissions on the regional and global tropospheric composition and its effect on climate.

This project will enhance collaborations between U.S. and Mexican scientists from a number of institutions, and will provide educational opportunities for several graduate students.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS)
Application #
0511780
Program Officer
Nicholas F. Anderson
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2005-10-01
Budget End
2008-09-30
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$293,835
Indirect Cost
Name
Droplet Measurement Technologies
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Boulder
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80301