Grantee Research Project Results
2019 Progress Report: The Effect of Ammonia on Organic Aerosols in a Changing Climate
EPA Grant Number: R835882Title: The Effect of Ammonia on Organic Aerosols in a Changing Climate
Investigators: Weber, Rodney J. , Russell, Armistead G. , Ng, Nga Lee , Huey, Greg
Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018 (Extended to December 31, 2020)
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2019 through December 31,2019
Project Amount: $789,261
RFA: Particulate Matter and Related Pollutants in a Changing World (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air , Climate Change
Objective:
The overall objective of this research is to investigate how changes in emissions of key species that affect aerosol acidity (pH), such as sulfate and ammonia, influence the formation of PM2.5 mass and the chemical and physical properties of PM2.5 particles. A specific research focus is to assess secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed under enhanced ammonia concentrations. In additional, this projected supported reseach investigating effects of changes in sulfate on aerosol composition in the southeastern US and in the further development of Chemical Ionization Mass Spectroscopy (CIMS) technology, a critical instrument utilized in the measurement components of this project.
Progress Summary:
There are three major research components of this project; (1) A field study, (2) an environmental chamber study and (3) data analysis/air quality modeling. Following the project plan for completing tasks, the first year of the project focused on the field study of part (1). Analysis of the data generated was analyased over years 2 to 4. Chamber studies, part (2), were informed be the field study began in year 2 of the project and were completed in year 4. Data analysis and work spans all years and is focued on synthesising the field and lab studies.
To investigate the effects of ammonia (NH3) on organic aerosols, the SEARCH Yorkville (YRK) network site was selected as the field study location and a six-week field study completed from Aug. 15 to Sept. 30, 2016. The site and study period was chosen based on an analysis of YRK historical NH3 data that showed periodic high NH3 concentrations due to air mass advection from nearby confined animal feeding operation (CAFO). The period of late summer was also chosen since it included anticipated periods of high temperature-driven biogenic VOC emissions and also a transition period toward lower emissions as we entered the cooler season.Year 4 research has focused on completing the chamber experiments, experimental work on CIMs modifications used in both the field study and chamber experiments, and analysis of data and publication of papers. Details of year results are provided below.>
Future Activities:
In year 5, the final year of this project, 4 papers currently in review will be processes through the review process and published. We anticipate two additional papers will be submitted; one paper based on the Yorkville field study data addressing the sources of organic acids and AMS-measured MO-OOA and the linkages between these organic aerosol components, and a second paper on the chamber experiment results.
Journal Articles on this Report : 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 19 publications | 11 publications in selected types | All 11 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Nah T, Ji Y, Tanner DJ, Guo H, Sullivan AP, Ng NL, Weber RJ, Huey LG. Real-time measurements of gas-phase organic acids using SF6− chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 2018;11: 5087-5104. |
R835882 (2017) R835882 (2018) R835882 (2019) R835882 (Final) |
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Nah T, Guo H, Sullivan AP, Chen Y, Tanner DJ, Nenes A, Russell A, Ng NL, Huey LG, Weber RJ. Characterization of aerosol composition, aerosol acidity and water-soluble organic acids at an agriculture intensive rural southeastern US site. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 2018;18:11471-11491. |
R835882 (2018) R835882 (2019) R835882 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
fine particulates, measurement methods, environmental chemistry, source characterization, Georgia, Southeast, organics, biogenic, biosphere, health effects, human health, air quality modeling, air quality analysis, organic acids, pH, particle acidity, SOA, PM2.5, brown carbon, reactive oxygen species, oxidative potential.Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.