Public Research Seminar by Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS) Thrust, HKUST (GZ) - Bridging scales in atmospheric aerosol research: from fundamental understanding to advances in climate models

Aerosols-solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere-play a pivotal role in shaping Earth's weather, air quality, and climate. Despite significant advancements in aerosol research, they remain one of the most uncertain factors in climate science. While state-of-the-art nanometer-scale instrumentation and sophisticated computational models have driven progress, many climate and air quality models continue to rely on outdated aerosol schemes. These models, often built on parameterizations from the early 2000s, fail to accurately capture the complex and dynamic nature of aerosols. In this seminar, she will present her research aimed at reducing uncertainties in aerosol modeling through an integrated, multiscale approach that combines atomistic simulations, laboratory experiments, theoretical parameterizations, and climate models. Her work focuses on understanding the microphysical mechanisms behind discrepancies between model simulations and observational data, spanning three key areas: nanoscale processes, process-level interactions, and global-scale aerosol impacts. Specifically, she investigates interfacial chemistry and nano-aerosol properties at the molecular level, ice-nucleating particle parameterizations in climate models at the process level, and advanced aerosol modeling techniques for assessing climate impacts on a global scale. By bridging these scales, her research seeks to enhance the representation of aerosols in climate models, ultimately guiding the development of more effective environmental strategies and climate policies. Addressing one of the largest sources of uncertainty in climate science, this work aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of aerosol dynamics and their role in shaping Earth’s atmosphere.