Public Research Seminar by Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS) Thrust, HKUST (GZ) - Exploring the Formation of Secondary Organic Aerosol: From Molecular Mechanisms to Regional Impacts
探究二次有机气溶胶（SOA）的形成： 从分子机制到区域影响
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Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) contributes substantially to atmospheric fine particles, thus understanding SOA formation is essential to determining the effect of aerosols on climate and human health. SOA is formed through the atmospheric oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from both biogenic and anthropogenic sources. Certain oxidation processes, such as monoterpene ozonolysis, lead to the formation of highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs), where low-volatility compounds quickly form and subsequently contribute to the particle phase. However, the exact formation and evolution process of SOA in the atmosphere is still uncertain and hence limits the predictability of aerosol concentrations and therefore their adverse effects. In this seminar, the speaker will show one ambient study coupled with a regional chemistry transport model, demonstrating the significance of nocturnal chemistry in SOA formation across Europe. In addition, one chamber study integrated with box model simulations will also be presented, showing temperature effects on HOMs formation and subsequent SOA production.
Dr. Lu LIU is a postdoctoral researcher at the Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland, where she mainly participates in the CLOUD campaign at the CERN institute, investigating the aerosol formation mechanisms at the molecular level. Dr. LIU graduated from Shandong University, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering with a Bachelor degree, and then earned her dual master's degrees from both Shandong University and Lille 1 University (France) in atmospheric chemistry. After that, she obtained her PhD from Forschungszentrum Juelich (Germany), specializing in ambient aerosol observations, with a focus on secondary organic aerosol formation from nocturnal chemistry. Her research integrates ambient measurements, chamber experiments, large-scale modeling, and box modeling to advance the understanding of secondary organic aerosol formation. Dr. Liu has published in the top journals of atmospheric chemistry, including Nature (as a co-author) and npj Climate and Atmospheric Science (as first author).
Monica ZHONG <monicamz@hkust-gz.edu.cn>