ABSTRACT
Pollution by soot is a deadly form of air pollution, which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, especially for disadvantaged communities. Soot nanoparticles are released from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass burning, and in addition to being an air toxic, they are a strong contributor to climate warming. The environmental impacts of soot are dependent on its structure and composition which evolve continuously during atmospheric transport. To make predictions of soot impacts on the environment, most air quality and climate models adopt simplifications, which severely limits their forecasting abilities. The goal of my research is to accurately represent soot aerosols in atmospheric models. Using an experimentally constrained modeling approach, my proposed work will improve the predictive capabilities of air quality and climate models regarding the impacts of soot. I will (1) conduct laboratory experiments to determine how soot particles evolve in the atmosphere; (2) analyze my experimental data to develop mechanisms that describe soot evolution; and (3) incorporate these mechanisms into an aerosol model to predict soot impacts. My preliminary results have yielded an analytical framework that qualitatively describes the evolution of soot structure and composition. This framework will be upscaled numerically and validated against experimental measurements for more quantitatively accurate predictions. The findings of this study are crucial in understanding the processes governing the transformations and environmental impacts of soot nanoparticles and will benefit the research communities of both experimentalists and modelers. Additionally, improving the forecasts of soot impact on health and climate will aid policy makers in addressing the problem of environmental justice for communities disproportionately affected by soot pollution.
Pollution by soot is a deadly form of air pollution, which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, especially for disadvantaged communities. Soot nanoparticles are released from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass burning, and in addition to being an air toxic, they are a strong contributor to climate warming. The environmental impacts of soot are dependent on its structure and composition which evolve continuously during atmospheric transport. To make predictions of soot impacts on the environment, most air quality and climate models adopt simplifications, which severely limits their forecasting abilities. The goal of my research is to accurately represent soot aerosols in atmospheric models. Using an experimentally constrained modeling approach, my proposed work will improve the predictive capabilities of air quality and climate models regarding the impacts of soot. I will (1) conduct laboratory experiments to determine how soot particles evolve in the atmosphere; (2) analyze my experimental data to develop mechanisms that describe soot evolution; and (3) incorporate these mechanisms into an aerosol model to predict soot impacts. My preliminary results have yielded an analytical framework that qualitatively describes the evolution of soot structure and composition. This framework will be upscaled numerically and validated against experimental measurements for more quantitatively accurate predictions. The findings of this study are crucial in understanding the processes governing the transformations and environmental impacts of soot nanoparticles and will benefit the research communities of both experimentalists and modelers. Additionally, improving the forecasts of soot impact on health and climate will aid policy makers in addressing the problem of environmental justice for communities disproportionately affected by soot pollution.