Photochemical formation of aerosol in planetary atmospheres: photon and water mediated chemistry of SO2

Kroll, Jay A.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/91062 Copy

Description

Title

Photochemical formation of aerosol in planetary atmospheres: photon and water mediated chemistry of SO2

Author(s)

Kroll, Jay A.

Contributor(s)

• Vaida, Veronica
• Donaldson, D. J.

Issue Date

2016-06-21

Keyword(s)

Spectroscopy in Atmospheric Chemistry

Abstract

Sulfur compounds have been observed in a number of planetary atmospheres throughout our solar system. Our current understanding of sulfur chemistry explains much of what we observe in Earth’s atmosphere. However, several discrepancies between modeling and observations of the Venusian atmosphere show there are still problems in our fundamental understanding of sulfur chemistry. This is of particular concern due to the important role sulfur compounds play in the formation of aerosols, which have a direct impact on planetary climates, including Earth’s. We investigate the role of water complexes in the hydration of sulfur oxides and dehydration of sulfur acids and will present spectroscopic studies to document such effects. I will present recent work investigating mixtures of \chem{SO_2} and water that generate large quantities of aerosol when irradiated with solar UV light, even in the absence of traditional OH chemistry. I will discuss a proposed mechanism for the formation of sulfurous acid (\chem{H_2SO_3}) and present recent experimental work that supports this proposed mechanism. Additionally, the implications that photon-induced hydration of \chem{SO_2} has for aerosol formation in the atmosphere of earth as well as other planetary atmospheres will be discussed.

Publisher

International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy

Type of Resource

text

Language

En

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/91062

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 by the authors

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