Estimating the Volatility of Aerosol Components and Diffusion Through the Particle-Phase

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Abstract

Accurate models of aerosol transformation including partitioning between the gas- and particle-phase are needed for estimating their effects on climate and air quality. In this thesis, the process of partitioning between phases and its determining factors are introduced and investigated. Three studies assess: the accuracy of estimation methods for aerosol component volatility and its effect on particulate concentration and composition; the consistency of different solutions to models of particle-phase diffusion; and, a method to analytically solve particle-phase diffusion. These studies contribute to the ongoing effort of improving aerosol models, such that their wide-ranging effects can be accurately estimated.

Layman's Abstract

Particulate matter suspended in the atmosphere affects both human health and climate. In order to understand these effects, a detailed knowledge of the processes determining how particulate matter is formed, and transformed with regards to physical and chemical properties such as size and composition, is required. To this end, this thesis demonstrates work that improves our ability to estimate the volatility of components that may contribute to particulate matter and improves our ability to simulate diffusion through it. The findings contribute to knowledge of how best to simulate particulate matter and its transformations and therefore its affect on health and climate.

Keyword(s)

Aerosol; Atmospheric Chemistry; Atmospheric Physics; Atmospheric Science; Diffusion; Environmental Science; Particulate Matter; Vapour Pressures

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