AerOsol-Cloud Interactions: the Role of orgAnic compounds and particle Size in CLoud droplEt activation (ORASCLE)

Aerosol particles and their interactions with clouds are one of the largest sources of uncertainty in global climate change. Many aerosols that activate into cloud droplets form from gas-phase reactions of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Surfactants are a special class of compounds in aerosol particles which partition to the surface of a particle or an interface between distinct phases within a particle. Surfactants can simultaneously modify the conditions under which a particle will activate into a cloud droplet and the gas-to-particle partitioning of other SVOCs. The goal of this project is to conduct chamber experiments using state-of-the-art techniques and instruments to constrain the interactions between SVOCs and surfactants present at the surface of aerosol particles. The results of these experiments will be used to improve and validate highly detailed theoretical models of aerosol-cloud interactions that I have developed as part of my thesis work at McGill.

Faculty Supervisor:

Andreas Zuend

Student:

Partner:

ETH Zurich

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Education

University:

McGill University

Program: