Grantee Research Project Results
Atmospheric Measurements of Cloud Condensation Nuclei From Research Aircraft
EPA Grant Number: U915349Title: Atmospheric Measurements of Cloud Condensation Nuclei From Research Aircraft
Investigators: VanReken, Timothy M.
Institution: California Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: October 1, 1998 through September 1, 2001
Project Amount: $102,000
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (1998) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Academic Fellowships , Safer Chemicals , Fellowship - Chemical Engineering
Objective:
The objectives of this research project are to: (1) provide accurate counts of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in the troposphere and stratosphere; and (2) improve our understanding of anthropogenic climate forcing via the indirect aerosol effects.
Approach:
The Seinfeld/Flagan group at the California Institute of Technology recently has developed a new type of CCN instrument designed to be sufficiently compact and robust for use in a small, single-engine research aircraft. A second instrument, based on the same design and modified for more extreme conditions, has been built for use in upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric studies. Both instruments will be made available for coordinated interinstitutional field studies. The data collected from the studies are expected to provide additional insight into the potential for indirect aerosol impacts on the global energy balance. This research project will result in a novel instrument for the airborne measurement of CCN, classified by critical supersaturation.
Supplemental Keywords:
fellowship, cloud physics, cloud condensation nuclei, CCN, climate change, atmospheric measurements, aerosol effects., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, climate change, Air Pollution Effects, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, Atmospheric Sciences, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Atmosphere, atmospheric measurement, atmospheric measurements, cloud condensation, nucleus spectrometer, differential mobility analyzer, remotely piloted aircraft, measurementProgress and Final Reports:
The 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.