Award Abstract # 0625349
Collaborative Research: Peroxide Measurements and Modeling for the Pacific Atmospheric Sulfur Experiment

NSF Org: AGS
Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
Recipient: UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
Initial Amendment Date: August 18, 2006
Latest Amendment Date: September 21, 2009
Award Number: 0625349
Award Instrument: Continuing Grant
Program Manager: Anne-Marie Schmoltner
AGS
 Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
GEO
 Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date: September 1, 2006
End Date: August 31, 2010 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $0.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $257,773.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2006 = $121,958.00
FY 2007 = $94,348.00

FY 2008 = $41,467.00
History of Investigator:
  • Brian Heikes (Principal Investigator)
    bheikes@uri.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University of Rhode Island
75 LOWER COLLEGE RD RM 103
KINGSTON
RI  US  02881-1974
(401)874-2635
Sponsor Congressional District: 02
Primary Place of Performance: University of Rhode Island
75 LOWER COLLEGE RD RM 103
KINGSTON
RI  US  02881-1974
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
02
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): CJDNG9D14MW7
Parent UEI: NSA8T7PLC9K3
NSF Program(s): Atmospheric Chemistry
Primary Program Source: app-0106 
app-0107 

01000809DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 1309, 9150, EGCH
Program Element Code(s): 152400
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.050

ABSTRACT

Measurements of gas phase hydrogen peroxide and methylhydroperoxide will be made in the marine boundary layer (MBL) over the equatorial Pacific upwind of Christmas Island, Kiribati, as part of the Pacific Atmospheric Sulfur Experiment (PASE). PASE is a comprehensive study of marine sulfur chemistry in the remote lower marine troposphere to be conducted in August-September 2007 on the NSF/NCAR C-130 aircraft. In collaboration with the Georgia Tech modeling effort, a chemistry mechanism including bulk aerosol chemistry, cloud droplets, gas phase chemistry, and parameterized gas-aerosol mass transport and material fluxes between the free troposphere-MBL and air-ocean surface will be implemented for the analysis and interpretation of the peroxide data. The mechanism will include halogens, bromine in particular. During PASE, sulfur species are expected to be regulated by the flux of dimethylsulfide (DMS) from the ocean and its subsequent oxidation. Critical to understanding the influence of marine sulfur gases on new particle production, particle growth, cloud-condensation nuclei and hence climate, are the production and fate of sulfur dioxide, dimethylsulfoxide, and sulfate from DMS. Peroxides are an important in-cloud oxidant of sulfur compounds. The PASE measurements and modeling of peroxides will provide constraints on meteorologically-driven material fluxes and on direct oxidants such as hydroxyl radical (OH) and hydrogen peroxide. This work will also constrain suspected oxidants like bromine monoxide (BrO), a potentially significant DMS oxidizer in the equatorial Pacific at its expected (0.05-0.5 ppt) but currently unmeasurable levels.

Broader impacts of the study include education and training of graduate students, exposure of undergraduates to atmospheric chemistry research, and dissemination of new knowledge on atmospheric chemistry, marine aerosols and climate. Knowledge transfer will occur via publications and presentations to other scientists and the general public.

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