Reactive Species in the Atmosphere: Determination of Peroxides, Peroxy Radicals, Sulfur Dioxide and Ammonia
J. B. Weinstein-Lloyd
SUNY College at Old Westbury
Department of Chemistry / Physics
PO Box 210
Old Westbury, NY 11568
516-876-2728
fax 516-876-2749
lloydj@oldwestbury.edu
This research is aimed at improving our ability to measure trace species in the atmosphere, with the goal of better understanding abundances, formation and loss mechanisms, and transport of ozone and particulate matter. Research is continuing to measure atmospheric peroxides, using a novel instrument developed with previous DOE funding. Peroxides are the termination products of HO2 and RO2 free radicals that are involved in ozone formation through reaction with NOx. In addition, peroxides are important oxidants for atmospheric SO2 in the aqueous phase, producing sulfates that ultimately may return to the atmosphere as particulate matter. New methods are being developed for the analysis of HO2 and RO2 free radicals, precursors to peroxides and to O3, and for SO2 and NH3, which play a role in the formation of atmospheric aerosols. The project continues a long-standing collaborative relationship between the PI and students from the State University of New York / College at Old Westbury and Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Atmospheric Sciences Division. New instruments will be field tested at BNL’s mobile field station, and deployed at surface sites and aboard the DOE’s G-1 research aircraft in field campaigns in collaboration with BNL, ANL and PNNL scientists. The measurements are analyzed for trends and relationships with other trace gas species’ concentration, and will be made available to the modeling community.
More information about this research can be found in the viewgraphs from a presentation at the Atmospheric Sciences Program Annual Meeting held in March 2002.
General information on research activities by the principle investigators can be found online at