Spatiotemporal Trends in Aerosol Physicochemical Properties at the Surface in the Contiguous United States and Enhancement of Student Preparation for Upper-Division Laboratory Courses

The atmospheric aerosol burden affects air quality and climate, and is characterized with a variety of techniques, including optical and filter-based mass measurements. Aerosol optical properties are largely a function of particle size, which is influenced by chemical composition. Notably, aerosol composition that affects hygroscopicity plays a determining role in particle size by affecting water uptake. Aerosol liquid water (ALW) is an important and ubiquitous particle constituent. However, it is poorly characterized by regulatory surface monitoring networks that measure fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mass. Satellite measurements of aerosol optical depth (AOD) observe aerosols in situ with ALW intact. Surface measurements of PM2.5 mass concentrations are often compared to satellite AOD. This work seeks to reconcile filter-based mass and optical measurements of ambient aerosols through fundamental chemistry. I apply a thermodynamic model to ambient meteorological and particle chemical composition data across the contiguous United States (CONUS) to estimate ALW mass. I perform statistical analyses to establish significant associations among ALW and optical aerosol measurement techniques. The topics of air quality and climate often create an interested but sometimes misinformed public. Scientific literacy begins in the classroom by instructing students in fundamental science and chemistry so they can later apply these concepts in their chosen careers.My dissertation aims to 1) reconcile ambient aerosol measurements made via different mass and optical techniques and platforms through understanding aerosol chemical properties and 2) improve student learning of contextualized analytical chemistry concepts via the development of interactive virtual prelab activities for an instrumental analysis course. To address these aims I 1) investigate the differences in aerosol physicochemical properties on cloudy and clear sky days at a surface monitoring location in the Midwestern U.S. from 2010 to 2019 (945,796 samples), 2) ...