Investigating the Impacts of Atmospheric Aerosols on Cloud Formation Relevant to Weather and Climate

In recent years, human induced air pollution has significantly increased, with profound atmospheric implications from local, regional, to global scales [Stocker et al., 2013]. This impact has sparked active research on the effects of aerosols on weather, climate, visibility, air quality, and human health. In this project, the impacts of aerosols on cloud formation potential in the atmosphere have been assessed using several laboratory experimental approaches. To study the effects of atmospheric aerosols on cloud formation, the physiochemical properties of aerosols, including the chemical composition and the hygroscopicity (, kappa values) for multicomponent aerosols, have been measured. Growth of aerosol particles is measured at variable particle sizes, chemical compositions, and relative humidity, which are made to represent the conditions found in the ambient environment. The results from the study have been analyzed to provide an overall synopsis of how aerosol particles impact global weather and climate