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Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/S006699/1

Quantitative Attribution of Secondary Organic Aerosol in Beijing to its Precursors

Grant Award

Principal Investigator:
Professor R Harrison, University of Birmingham, Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
Co-Investigator:
Professor Z Shi, University of Birmingham, Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
Science Area:
Atmospheric
Overall Classification:
Unknown
ENRIs:
Environmental Risks and Hazards
Pollution and Waste
Science Topics:
Aerosols and particles
Atmospheric chemistry
Atmospheric composition
Atmospheric Kinetics
Abstract:
Breathing particles in polluted air leads to the worsening of many health conditions and ultimately to premature death. The atmosphere of Beijing is well known for its very high concentrations of airborne particles and there is an urgent need for further control measures. A large proportion of those particles (referred to as "haze") are not emitted directly into the atmosphere but form within the atmosphere from chemical reactions of gases and vapours. This project is concerned with finding out which gases and vapours emitted into the atmosphere from road traffic, fuel burning, refuse incineration and many other sources are responsible for the formation of particles within the atmosphere of Beijing and the amount which they contribute to the concentration of particles. The scientific approach is to fill a reaction chamber with the vapours of a single chemical compound and let them undergo chemical reactions which lead to particle formation. The particles formed are then subject to very detailed chemical analysis and constituent molecules are identified which are characteristic of the compounds originally put into the chamber. Then, by making measurements of the same compound in the atmosphere, it is possible to estimate how much of the particles arise from the reaction of a particular gas. Control policies can then be formulated to reduce the emissions of those gases most responsible for particle formation.
Period of Award:
31 Jan 2019 - 30 Jan 2021
Value:
£349,060
Authorised funds only
NERC Reference:
NE/S006699/1
Grant Stage:
Completed
Scheme:
Directed - International
Grant Status:
Closed
Programme:
APHH

This grant award has a total value of £349,060  

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FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)

DI - Other CostsIndirect - Indirect CostsDA - InvestigatorsDA - Estate CostsDI - StaffDA - Other Directly AllocatedDI - T&S
£36,335£124,001£35,352£35,799£85,488£1,325£30,761

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