Project description DEENESFRITPL Improving climate prediction Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) constitutes the main type of particulate matter found in the troposphere and is generated from the organic transformation of various compounds. The experimental characterisation and theoretical description of SOA is technically challenging given the complex reactions implicated in its formation. More importantly, since it plays a central role in air quality, atmospheric chemistry and climate, it is essential to understand how SOA components diffuse within particles. In this context, the EU-funded MICROSCOPE project will combine innovative instrumentation as well as experimental and modelling work to measure diffusion coefficients of organic molecules within SOA under tropospheric-relevant temperatures. The project's findings are expected to improve our ability to predict air quality and future climate. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Molecular diffusion of organics within secondary organic aerosol (SOA), a main class of tropospheric particles, controls predictions of particle mass, size, mixing state, and cloud formation properties, thus SOA’s role for air quality, atmospheric chemistry and climate. Despite that, measurements of diffusion coefficients of organics in SOA at low, tropospheric relevant temperatures (T) are largely missing.The objectives of MICROSCOPE are to directly measure diffusion coefficients of organic molecules in SOA particles at T < 290 K, improve parametrizations used to estimate diffusion, test predictions of diffusivity in atmospheric models and assess the impacts on particle chemistry, by the combination of development of innovative instrumentation, experimental and modelling work. Measuring diffusion coefficients as a function of water activity (aw) and temperature, will be achieved by developing a new flow cell with simultaneous and in-situ T and aw-control for rectangular area fluorescence recovery after photobleaching measurements. The chemical composition of the SOA samples will be determined using high-resolution mass spectrometry, with the goal to improve existing parametrizations used to estimate the diffusion of organics in SOA and derive new ones that directly relate chemical composition to diffusion coefficients. The new T and aw-dependent parametrization will be used along with model output to verify if tropospheric mixing times of organics in SOA particles are < 1 h. Finally, the impact of diffusion of organics on SOA particle reactivity and chemistry will be determined through measuring the degradation rates of peroxides within SOA particles, using aerosol flow tube and X-ray microscopy experiments. By combining the expertise of two research groups in North America and Europe, state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, and small and large-scale instrumentation, both the scientific as well as the training goals of this action will be reached. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopyengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringair pollution engineeringnatural scienceschemical sciencesanalytical chemistrymass spectrometry Keywords secondary organic aerosol particles diffusion coefficient diffusion aerosol particles aerosol processes mass transport X-ray microscopy rFRAP SOA chemistry microscopy Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2019 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2019 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUT Net EU contribution € 247 606,08 Address FORSCHUNGSTRASSE 111 5232 Villigen Psi Switzerland See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Nordwestschweiz Aargau Activity type Research Organisations 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 € 247 606,08 Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Canada Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address AGRONOMY ROAD 102-6190 V6T1Z1 Vancouver See on map 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 € 152 031,36
