PULLMAN – Researchers in the Laboratory for Atmospheric Research have received a National Science Foundation grant for the acquisition and development of an atmospheric chemistry mobile laboratory.
Led by Tom Jobson, associate professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering, the researchers will use the laboratory and a trailer, to study the impact of fossil fuel and biological emissions on atmospheric chemistry, in relation to air quality and aerosol formation.
The $800,000 grant will allow researchers to take an integrated look at aerosols, and measure things such as: height profiles of aerosols and clouds, particle sizes and gas concentrations. The lab will also contain a basic weather station. Because it’s mobile, the laboratory allows the researchers to take valuable measurements that can be used for comparisons to computer models of atmospheric activity.
The research will also lead to better understanding of regional variations in pollution, and the impact of urban and industrial emissions on the health of local ecosystems.
In addition to its research uses, the laboratory will be used for training undergraduate and graduate students.
The Laboratory for Atmospheric Research at WSU has a national reputation in the measurement of biosphere-atmosphere interactions that lead to aerosol formation. Within the past year, four new faculty members have joined the laboratory with special expertise in aerosol measurement and modeling.
In addition to Jobson, researchers on the project include
Marc Beutel , David Evans, Tim VanReken,
George Mount , David Yonge, Brian Lamb, and Kristen Johnson.
