Project description DEENESFRITPL Exploring aerosol impact on the atmosphere The industrial revolution has led to an increase in atmospheric aerosols, some of which may counteract the global warming caused by concurrent greenhouse gas emissions. However, the uncertainty surrounding aerosol climate influence remains high. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is a prominent type of aerosol, but its formation process is not yet fully understood. Researchers in the ERC-funded COALA project have made a groundbreaking discovery of extremely low-volatility organic compounds that help understand SOA formation. Throughout COALA, researchers will use state-of-the-art chemical ionisation mass spectrometry and conduct innovative laboratory and field experiments to further study these low-volatility organic compounds. COALA will provide unprecedented insight into SOA, reducing uncertainties about aerosol effects on climate and air quality. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Key words: Atmospheric secondary organic aerosol, chemical ionization mass spectrometryThe increase in anthropogenic atmospheric aerosol since the industrial revolution has considerably mitigated the global warming caused by concurrent anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. However, the uncertainty in the magnitude of the aerosol climate influence is larger than that of any other man-made climate-perturbing component. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is one of the most prominent aerosol types, yet a detailed mechanistic understanding of its formation process is still lacking. We recently presented the ground-breaking discovery of a new important compound group in our publication in Nature: a prompt and abundant source of extremely low-volatility organic compounds (ELVOC), able to explain the majority of the SOA formed from important atmospheric precursors. Quantifying the atmospheric role of ELVOCs requires further focused studies and I will start a research group with the main task of providing a comprehensive, quantitative and mechanistic understanding of the formation and evolution of SOA. Our recent discovery of an important missing component of SOA highlights the need for comprehensive chemical characterization of both the gas and particle phase composition. This project will use state-of-the-art chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS), which was critical also in the detection of the ELVOCs. We will extend the applicability of CIMS techniques and conduct innovative experiments in both laboratory and field settings using a novel suite of instrumentation to achieve the goals set out in this project.We will provide unprecedented insights into the compounds and mechanisms producing SOA, helping to decrease the uncertainties in assessing the magnitude of aerosol effects on climate. Anthropogenic SOA contributes strongly to air quality deterioration as well and therefore our results will find direct applicability also in this extremely important field. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistrynatural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysisnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanetsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changesnatural scienceschemical sciencesanalytical chemistrymass spectrometry Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-StG-2014 - ERC Starting Grant Call for proposal ERC-2014-STG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-STG - Starting Grant Host institution HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO Net EU contribution € 1 892 221,25 Address YLIOPISTONKATU 3 00014 Helsingin Yliopisto Finland See on map Region Manner-Suomi Helsinki-Uusimaa Helsinki-Uusimaa Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 892 221,25 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO Finland Net EU contribution € 1 892 221,25 Address YLIOPISTONKATU 3 00014 Helsingin Yliopisto See on map Region Manner-Suomi Helsinki-Uusimaa Helsinki-Uusimaa Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 892 221,25
