Transformations of wood smoke aerosol studied using complementary experiments
Atmospheric aerosols impact the climate directly through the scattering and absorption of solar radiation, and indirectly through their ability to act as cloud condensation nuclei and ice nuclei. To reduce the uncertainty associated with the contribution of atmospheric aerosols to the Earth’s radiative balance, it is necessary to study aerosols and their transformations in the laboratory to determine their physical and chemical properties. With the rising number of global wildfires, it is important to study transformations of biomass burning organic aerosol to further understand its impact on the climate. In this presentation, I will discuss the study of water-soluble wood smoke aerosol using single particle levitation experiments and simulation chamber studies to investigate the impact of photoaging on key aerosol properties. I will also present findings from a neutron reflectometry study on wood smoke films at the air-water interface that suggest structural ordering of compounds within the film. The presentation will highlight how complementary methods can provide a deeper understanding of aerosol properties.
Bio
Stephanie Jones is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at York University. Her research group focuses on transformations of atmospheric aerosols and environmentally relevant films, motivated to further understand the impact of aerosols and films on the climate and environment. Stephanie is originally from the UK and obtained an MSci in Chemistry from the University of Bristol. She then worked as a graduate chemist at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), UK, before undertaking a Collaborative Award in Science and Engineering PhD at Royal Holloway University of London and STFC. Stephanie completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Victoria and the University of Toronto, Canada, prior to working as an independent Research Scientist at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany.