Ambient Observations of Aerosols, Novel Aerosol Structures, And Their Engineering Applications

The role of atmospheric aerosols remains a crucial issue in understanding and mitigating climate change in our world today. These particles influence the Earth by altering the Earth's delicate radiation balance, human health, and visibility. In particular, black carbon particulate matter remains the key driver in positive radiative forcing (i.e., warming) due to aerosols. Produced from the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons, these compounds can be found in many different forms around the globe. This thesis provides an overview of three research topics: (1) the ambient characterization of aerosols in the Northern Indian Ocean, measurement techniques used, and how these aerosols influence local, regional, and global climate; (2) the exploration of novel soot superaggregate particles collected in the Northern Indian Ocean and around the globe and how the properties of these particles relate to human health and climate forcing; and (3) how aerogelated soot can be produced in a novel, one-step method utilizing an inverted flame reactor and how this material could be used in industrial settings.

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's Degree

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Beres, Nicholas D.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Moosmüller, Hans

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Chakrabarty, Rajan K.
• Arnott, William P.

• Aerosol
• Air Quality
• Black Carbon
• Climate Change
• Soot
• Superaggregates

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11714/2963

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/2963