Open Collections

Abstract

The development and deployment of advanced aerosol instrumentation is essential to address gaps in understanding atmospheric processes. In this thesis, three primary projects were undertaken: the first involved constructing an LED-based environmental chamber (ATMOX) to simulate atmospheric conditions for studying photochemical and oxidative reactions under controlled light wavelengths. This chamber was characterized to ensure its capability in reproducing realistic atmospheric environments, with potential applications in wavelength-specific photochemistry. The second project focused on characterizing locomotive exhaust emissions during a field campaign at an undisclosed railyard, examining the effects of biodiesel fuel blends on particulate matter emissions. The third project investigated cooking aerosol emissions by employing measurement techniques to evaluate particle size distributions and their potential to generate harmful reactive oxygen species. Collectively, these projects highlighted the versatility and importance of aerosol measurement tools in bridging laboratory and real-world applications, advancing knowledge in air quality and atmospheric chemistry.