Aerosol plays a significant role in climate, air quality and human health, which makes it one of the most important and studied components in the atmosphere, nevertheless, its effects are still poorly quantified. A significant improvement has been made with an introduction of an Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS), which proved to be a powerful tool for studying the aerosol effects. In addition to being able to quantify near real time mass concentration of major inorganic compounds and organic matter, information on the organic components and sources can be obtained by inspecting the mass spectra. The source apportionment of organic aerosols is a critical step towards enabling the efficient control strategies underpinning air pollution policy development as well as advancing climate change mitigation strategies.
Jurgita will present major achievements in marine aerosol characterisation facilitated by the AMS at the Mace Head Atmospheric Research station. Atmospheric aerosols have been sampled and characterised at the Mace Head since 1958, with many interesting phenomena being discovered. The latest results of experimental studies focusing on marine aerosol over the NE Atlantic that extends from a sea spray source function to effects of chemical sea spray composition on particle water uptake properties and secondary aerosol composition effects on cloud formation will be shown. In addition, results from the national air quality network comprising AMS/ACSM instruments, AEROSOURCE, will be highlighted. The AEROSOURCE network has demonstrated how critical it is to augment regulatory air quality networks with aerosol mass spectrometry approaches that can identify the main pollution contributors, which, in turn, can better inform policy measures and enable specifically targeted and sophisticated emission reduction.
About the speaker:
Jurgita Ovadnevaite is an Associate Professor at School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway, Ireland and a deputy director of the Ryan Institute’s Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies (C-CAPS), where she leads the Aerosol Mass Spectrometry field. Her work is focused on elucidating aerosol particle sources and impacts on climate, air quality and health. Jurgita publishes her research in high profile international journals, including Nature and Nature family and acts there as a reviewer. She is a contributing author to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report; resides on the international SOLAS (Surface Ocean – Lower Atmosphere Studies) scientific steering committee and the International Committee on Nucleation and Atmospheric Aerosols.
