COURSE DESCRIPTION

Airborne particulate matter (PM) or atmospheric aerosol is not a single pollutant, but rather is a mixture of many subclasses of pollutants with each subclass containing many different chemical species. They are becoming of increasing interest in air quality. Recent epidemiological studies have found statistical associations between concentrations of ambient PM and mortality, morbidity, exacerbation of pre-existing illness and physiologic changes. Aerosols come in a wide range of sizes, morphology, and shapes. They originate from both anthropogenic (stationary, area and mobile sources) and natural sources. They may be emitted directly by a source or formed in the atmosphere by the transformation of gaseous emission (i.e. gas-to-particle conversion). Their chemical and physical compositions vary depending on location, season and meteorology. Aerosols also play a role in a great number of environmental issues affecting human health, visibility, climate and ecosystems. This course will provide the student with a background in the fundamentals of atmospheric aerosols. Both primary and secondary sources of aerosols will be discussed together with their transport and fate in the atmosphere. The importance of aerosols in present day urban, rural and remote air quality, together with ways to analyse atmospheric aerosol data will be addressed.

Contact Person: Jane Chantler  Course Secretariat
Wessex Institute of Technology, Southampton, UK
Street address: Jane Chantler
City: Southampton
Postal code/ZIP: SO40 7AA, UK
Country: United Kingdom
Phone: 44 (0) 23 80 293223
Fax: 44 (0) 23 80 292853
E-mail: jchantler@wessex.ac.uk