The aerosol interaction surface area size distribution: the impact of parameter uncertainty on atmospheric aerosol process rates and air quality metrics

The project AeroSurf will carry out a detailed theoretical and laboratory study of a key quantity governing many atmospheric processes involving aerosols: the aerosol surface interaction area and its size distribution. Its starting point is that the proper quantification of the interaction surface area is essential for determining secondary aerosol formation rates in the laboratory and field, and for predicting survival rates of newly formed particles; it also determines instrumental response rates of sensor-type instruments, and it is itself also an important as a potential health-relevance metric. Despite its importance, there are many factors in its determination in which we rely on strong assumptions with significant uncertainties. AeroSurf will systematically test these assumptions for atmospherically relevant aerosols and reduce uncertainties, with the aim of better understanding the role of SIA and its size distribution in atmospheric processes and urban air quality.