Sunlight and atmospheric aerosols are ever-present in our environment. Air pollution costs the UK £15 billion/year in damage to human health, and the World Health Organization estimates nearly 12% of all deaths worldwide are due to indoor and outdoor air pollution. Aerosols are also the largest uncertainty in our understanding of climate change. Aerosols interact with sunlight by scattering or absorbing it, which can reduce visibility (e.g. smog) or create a beautiful sunset. However, we have not studied how sunlight can initiate chemistry in aerosols and change particle properties. Recent experiments suggest that light-initiated aerosol chemistry may be a common occurrence. However, the key factors (e.g. particle size, surface composition, viscosity) that govern the rates and products of such chemistry are poorly resolved.

This project investigates the role of light-initiated chemistry on a range of aerosol properties that are relevant to climate (how much they scatter or absorb sunlight) and to air quality (composition and size). The results will provide a systematic understanding of how light interacts with aerosols to drive chemical reactions and how that chemistry ultimately impacts particle properties important to climate and health.