Date of Award

2015-01-01

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Environmental Science and Engineering

Advisor(s)

Rosa Fitzgerald

Second Advisor

Vernon Morris

Abstract

The atmospheric aerosol mass size distributions, modal characteristics, and a comparative analysis of the characteristic of PM2.5 versus trace gases: CO, O3, and SO2 over tropical Atlantic Ocean have been evaluated for Nov-Dec 2013. This study took place during the IX AEROSE expedition while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research vessel Ronald H. Brown traveled south along 23°W between 3°N and 5°S.

Aerosol mass size distributions were measured directly with a California Instruments Model PC-2H Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM). The corresponding values of average mass for accumulation, nuclei and coarse mode obtained were: 0.00124±0.00077, 0.00506±0.00254, and 0.00176±0.00114 μg/m 3. Mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) ranged from 0.57 to 0.72 ?m and geometric standard deviation between 1.62 and 2.18 for accumulation mode, were calculated.

The presence of CO, SO2, O3 (trace gases), and PM2.5 that are well known as atmospheric pollutants was analyzed over the marine boundary layer of the tropical Atlantic Ocean. For Dec 1-4 the obtained mean aerosol mass concentrations were: 29320±7953 μg/m 3 for CO, 4.52±1.04 μg/m3 for SO2, 792±190 μg/m3 for O3, and 0.582±0.12 μg/m 3 for PM2.5.

The significance of the measurements obtained is emphasized in light of the comparative scarcity of such data over the tropical Atlantic Ocean.

Language

en

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Size

83 pages

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

Elsa Castillo

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