(GC1)A Computational Approach to Understanding Oxidant Chemistry and Aerosol Formation in the Troposphere
EMSL Project ID
1812
Abstract
Ozone production and aerosol formation in the troposphere are recognized as two major effects of energy-related air pollutants. Tropospheric ozone is of concern primarily because of its impact on health. Ozone levels are controlled by NOx and by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the lower troposphere. The VOCs can either be from natural emissions from such sources as vegetation and phytoplankton or from anthropogenic sources such as automobiles and oil-fueled power production plants. It is of critical importance to the Department of Energy (DOE) in developing national energy use policies to understand the role of VOCs in determining air quality and how VOC emission or NOx emission control strategies should be designed. Atmospheric aerosols are of concern because of their affect on visibility, climate, and human health. Equally important, aerosols can change the chemistry of the atmsophere, in dramatic fashion, by providing new chemical pathways (in the condensed phase) that are not available in the gas phase. The oxidation of VOCs and organic sulfur compounds can form precursor molecules that nucleate aerosols. DOE's Atmospheric Chemistry Program has identified the need to evaluate the causes of variations in tropospheric aerosol chemical composition and concentrations, including determining the sources of aerosol particles and the fraction that are of primary and secondary origin. A fundamental understanding of mechanisms for production of oxidants and aerosols in the troposphere is currently not available. We propose the use of advanced theoretical techniques to model the molecular processes that control ozone and aerosol formation.
Project Details
Project type
Capability Research
Start Date
1998-05-31
End Date
2000-05-31
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members