The influence of atmospheric aerosol on the formation of photochemical pollutants

• Grant number: 01/13855-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2002
• End date: July 31, 2005
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Meteorology
• Principal Investigator: Maria de Fátima Andrade
• Grantee: Maria de Fátima Andrade
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

To evaluate the influence of atmospheric aerosol on the processes of formation of photochemical oxidants present in urban and remote atmospheres. This influence occurs due to the fact that the particles can increase or decease depending on the photolysis of certain compounds. In this study, we will use experimental data from urban (in the metropolitan region of São Paulo) and biogenic (from the Amazon region) aerosol, in their soluble, insoluble and black carbon components, their physical-chemical and optical properties calculated through the methodology developed in the doctoral thesis of the student Regina Maura de Miranda (FAPESP Process 97/01505-4), and these will be inserted in a model of radioactive transference in order to obtain the ratios of photolysis of the NO2 and O3. These results will then be introduced into a photochemical model, obtaining the temporal and spatial variation of tracers of the photochemical processes (such as O3 and others), as well as their vertical profile and also of the aerosol. In a second stage, the influence of the profile of temperature will be studied, using numerical models for this. (AU)