SOAS

04-02-2013

Together with researchers from across the country, the Shepson Group will be participating in the Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study (SOAS) in Centreville, Alabama from June 1-July 15, 2013. Our goal is to study the interactions of trace gases emitted from forests (biogenic volatile organic compounds, or BVOCs) with urban pollution transported from cities. In the southeastern U.S., the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed from the oxidation of BVOCs is known to form a climate-relevant cooling haze (see Goldstein et al. 2009). The Shepson Group is funded by the EPA to study BVOC oxidation, focusing on organic nitrate formation, using a recently-developed (with NSF funding) two-dimensional gas chromatograph (2D-GC), chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS), off-line filter sampling with subsequent electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis, and box modeling (see Pratt et al. 2012).  In addition, the Shepson Group is funded by the NSF for aircraft-based measurements of CO2, CH4, atmospheric turbulence, ozone, particles, and cloud water using the Purdue University Airborne Laboratory for Atmospheric Research (ALAR).  Graduate students Kevin McAvey, Fulizi Xiong, Chris Wirth, and Chris Groff are currently preparing for this fantastic campaign!

Photographs of our 2D-GC and CIMS to be deployed to Alabama:

For more information about SOAS, check out:

• soas2013.rutgers.edu
• thesoasblog.wordpress.com

Collaborators on Shepson SOAS deployment:

• Prof. Steve Bertman, Western Michigan University
• Prof. Kerri Pratt, University of Michigan
• Prof. John Seeley, Oakland University
• Prof. Tim Starn, West Chester University of Pennsylvania