"The Seen Unseen: the Physics and Chemistry of Atmospheric Particles"
Presented by Anna Hodshire, CSU Graduate Student in Atmospheric Sciences and WSU Physics Alum
Abstract:
Residents along the Wasatch Front are all too familiar with periodic episodes of poor air quality, often caused by wildfire smoke during the summer and local pollution sources trapped by temperature inversions during the winter. These hazes are made up of complex mixtures of gases and particles (aerosols). However, gases and aerosols are present in all environments throughout the entire atmosphere and have implications on both human health and climate. In this talk, I will focus on physical and chemical processes that shape the amount (number and mass), size, and composition of particles; and I will tie these aerosol properties to health and climate impacts.
(Image credit: Dan Schroeder)