Every day we inhale about 10 000 liters of air. In addition to nitrogen and oxygen, air contains a large variety of trace gases and aerosol particles. Aerosol particles are the main constituents of air pollution but, also, they are essential ingredients in forming clouds.
Particles in the air form when atmospheric gases oxidize and condense. In Atmospheric Aerosol Chemistry group, we study the oxidation processes leading to the formation of low-volatility vapors and consequently aerosol particles in the laboratory reactors and in the real atmosphere. We are also exploring how aerosol particles age in their environment and how that alters their physiochemical properties but also the composition of the air. We use field experiment data to further inform laboratory tests and we apply mass spectrometry techniques for measuring very low concentrations of air constituents that have very large impacts on our health and climate.
