CyI Colloquium: Atmospheric Particulate Matter, Air Quality and Climate Change

Dates: 
25 February, 2010 - 18:00
Speaker(s): 
Prof. Spyros N. Pandis, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, Greece and Carnegie Mellon University, USA
Venue: 
The Cyprus Institute, Guy Ourisson Building, Athalassa Campus (Higher Technical Institute - HTI, grounds)

Host: Prof. Jos Lelieveld and Dr. Marina Astitha, EEWRC, The Cyprus Institute

The human development of our planet has a variety of negative impacts on the composition of its atmosphere at every scale – locally, regionally, and even globally. One of these dramatic changes has been the increase in the mass concentrations of sub-micrometer particles by one to sometimes two orders of magnitude over populated areas in the Northern Hemisphere. These atmospheric aerosols can cause serious health problems, reduce visibility, contribute to acidic deposition and material damage, but are also cooling the planet by reflecting sunlight back to space.
Atmospheric particles may be emitted directly but the majority of the mass of the small particles is formed in the atmosphere by transformation of gaseous emissions such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic substances. Some of the particles sources are anthropogenic but nature can be a significant contributor of some components. The particles over a given area can be of local origin, but they may have traveled thousands of kilometers to get there. Atmospheric chemistry occurs within a fabric of complicated atmospheric dynamics and physics. This interplay often results in nonlinear and often counterintuitive changes of the system when anthropogenic emissions change. A major goal of our research has been to gain a predictive understanding of the physical and chemical processes that govern the dynamics, size, and chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols.
To illustrate the advances in the experimental techniques and theoretical tools in atmospheric aerosol science we will attempt to design a particulate matter control strategy for the Eastern US. The first step in the process will be to quantify the severity and the causes of the problem. Then we will attempt to identify the origin of the particles and their mass. Finally, we will use the theoretical tools to evaluate the responses of the atmospheric system to changes in emissions and climate but also the potential unintended consequences of different air quality control strategies.

For more information contact Dr. Marina Astitha +357 22208600 or email m [dot] astitha [at] cyi [dot] ac [dot] cy