This project consists of several activities aimed at improving our understanding of tropospheric aerosol chemistry. The first activity is a continuation of the long-term Mauna Loa aerosol chemistry record. This record includes aerosol nitrate/nitric acid, sulfate, methanesulfonate, magnesium, and calcium. The second activity involves the design and field testing of airborne aerosol samplers. This involves the testing of a total aerosol sampler (TAS) and the fabrication and testing of an impactor coupled to a porous diffuser, low turbulence inlet. The third activity involves the planning and coordination of a major field experiment (ACE-Asia) directed at studying the composition and physical properties of aerosols in the outflow from eastern Asia, and their transformations during transport over the Pacific ocean.
