Wisconsin Atmospheric Chemistry Interest Group (WACIG)
 

Matthew Hitchman
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
matt@aos.wisc.edu

Representative Publications
"A Climatology of Stratospheric Polar Vortices and Anticyclones", V. L Harvey, R. B. Pierce, T. D. Fairlie, and M. H. Hitchman, Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres 107, 4442 (2002)

"Non-orographic generation of arctic PSCs during December 1999", M. H. Hitchman, M. L. Buker, G. J. Tripoli,E. V. Browell, W. B. Grant, T. J. McGee, and J. F. Burris, Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres 108, 1029 (2002)

“Tropical Aerosol in the Aleutian Anticyclone", V. L. Harvey, M. H. Hitchman, R. B. Pierce, and T. D. Fairlie, Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres 104, 6281 (1999)

"A Climatology of Stratospheric Aerosol", M. H. Hitchman, M. McKay, and C. R. Trepte, Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres 99, 20689-20700 (1994).

Research Summary
Our group studies the climate change implications of transport phenomena at the meso- to global scale, with emphasis on the upper troposphere and stratosphere. We use a variety of satellite and aircraft data, global meteorological analyses, and numerical models to address problems ranging from ozone depletion to the influence of the quasibiennial oscillation (QBO) on tropical convection.

Current Students

Marcus Buker (mesoscale modeling of PSCs and of stratosphere/troposphere exchange of ozone), marcus@aos.wisc.edu

Amihan Huesmann (influence of stratospheric quasibiennial oscillation on tropopause), amihan@xena.aos.wisc.edu

Marek Rogal (influence of Asian monsoon on southern hemisphere ozone distribution), marek@xena.aos.wisc.edu

Monica Harkey (influence of biomass burning on tropical cirrus clouds), mkharkey@students.wisc.edu

Gilbert Nathanson
Department of Chemistry
nathanso@chem.wisc.edu
 
Representative Publications
“Surface Tensions and Surface Segregation of n-Butanol in Sulfuric Acid”, Ryan D. Torn and Gilbert M. Nathanson, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 106, 8064 (2002)

“Reaction and Desorption of HCl and HBr Following Collisions with Supercooled Sulfuric Acid”, Peter Behr, John R. Morris, Melissa D. Antman, Bradley R. Ringeisen, Jennifer Splan, and Gilbert M. Nathanson, Geophysical Research Letters, 28, 1961 (2001)

“Molecular Beam Scattering from Supercooled Sulfuric Acid: Collisions of HCl, HBr, and HNO3 with 70 wt % D2SO4”, John R. Morris, Peter M. Behr, Melissa D. Antman, Bradley R. Ringeisen, Jennifer Splan, and Gilbert M. Nathanson, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 104, 6738 (2000)

Research Summary
Heterogeneous reactions of gas phase molecules with aqueous sulfuric acid aerosols play a significant role in the destruction of ozone in the stratosphere. These processes include the acid-catalyzed reactions of HCl and HBr with ClONO2 (BrONO2) and HOCl (HOBr) to generate photoactive halogen molecules, particularly in colder regions of the stratosphere where they are more soluble in the water-rich aerosols. Our objective is to determine the mechanisms and rate-limiting steps of reactions of these atmospheric gases with bare and surfactant-coated sulfuric acid. By employing molecular beam scattering techniques, we probe the nature of the initial gas-sulfuric acid collision and the immediate fate of HCl and HBr molecules trapped at the acid’s surface as they either desorb into the gas phase or react in the interfacial or bulk regions of the aerosol.

Current Students

Jennifer Lawrence (controlling gas entry and reactivity by organic surfactants on sulfuric acid) splan@chem.wisc.edu

Sam Glass (thermal roughening and hydrogen bond breaking at the surface of sulfuric acid) glass@chem.wisc.edu

David Castro (collisions and reactions between gases and molten sodium hydroxide)
castro@chem.wisc.edu

Annabel Muenter and Jennifer DeZwaan (interfacial dissociation of acidic gases in glycerol) muenter@chem.wisc.edu, jldezwann@chem.wisc.edu

Jamie Schauer
Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program
jschauer@engr.wisc.edu

Representative Publications
"Source Reconciliation of Atmospheric Gas-Phase and Particle-Phase Pollutants Using Organic Compounds as Tracers", J. J. Schauer, M. P. Fraser, G. R. Cass, and B. R. T. Simoneit, Environmental Science and Technology 36, 3806(2002).

"Trimethylsilyl Derivatives of Organic Compounds in Source Samples and in Atmospheric Fine Particulate Matter", C. G. Nolte, J. J. Schauer, G. R. Cass, and B. R. T. Simoneit, Environmental Science and Technology 36, 4272 (2002)

"Size and Composition Distribution of Fine Particulate Matter Emitted from Motor Vehicles", M. J. Kleeman, J. J. Schauer, and G R. Cass, Environmental Science and Technology 34, 1132 (2000)

Research Summary
I am interested in developing a quantitative understanding of the origin of air pollutants and the impact of these pollutants on human health and the ecosystem, such that effective control strategies can be developed and designed to mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution. I am concerned with air quality issues relating to indoor, urban, regional and global air pollution.

My research group is developing advanced characterization tools that can be used to determine detailed chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of emissions from air pollution sources and atmospheric pollutants. Such tools provide the basis for air pollution models that can be used to assess the contributions of air pollution sources to atmospheric concentrations of these pollutants, and provide the basis for the development of pollution abatements strategies. In addition, we are using advanced characterization of air pollutants to help assess the impact of air pollution on human health and the environment.

Current Staff and Students
Dr. Martin Shafer, mmshafer@facstaff.wisc.edu

Todd Rudolph, tmrudolph@students.wisc.edu

Graduate Students

Glynis Lough, gclough@students.wisc.edu

Rebecca Sheesley, rjsheesley@wisc.edu

Thomas Sharkey
Department of Botany
tsharkey@wisc.edu

Representative Publications
"Perspectives: Plant Science - Some like It Hot", T. D. Sharkey, Science 287, 435 (2000)

"Isoprene Emission from Plants", T. D. Sharkey and S. S. Yeh, Annual Review of Plant Physiology 52, 407 (2001)

Research Summary
My research interest in atmospheric chemistry is centered on isoprene emissions from plants. Plants emit large amounts of isoprene, and isoprene is the single most abundant hydrocarbon emitted to the atmosphere. Isoprene substantially affects the oxidation potential of the atmosphere. Work in my laboratory has included field studies of isoprene emission rates from oak trees. Current work is focused on the biochemistry and molecular biology of isoprene synthesis. I also work to answer the question “why do plants emit isoprene?”

Current Students
Sansun Yeh (cloned isoprene synthase from aspen and kudzu, examination of the molecular biology of isoprene emission), syeh2@wisc.edu

Stephen Schrader (high temperature effects on photosynthesis and what isoprene does to help protect plants from high temperature damage), sschrader@wisc.edu

Amy Wiberley (biochemical regulation of isoprene emission), aewiberley@wisc.edu

George Zografi
School of Pharmacy
gzografi@facstaff.wisc.edu

Representative Publications
"Comparison of bilayer and monolayer properties of phospholipid systems containing dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol and dipalmitoylphosphatidylinositol", H. Mansour, D. S. Wang, C. S. Chen, and G. Zografi, Langmuir 17, 6622 (2001)

"The interaction of lung annexin I with phospholipid monolayers at the air/water interface", S. Koppenal, F. H. C. Tsao, and G. Zografi, Biochemica et Biophysica Acta 1369, 221 (1998)

Research Summary
I have been studying the physical and chemical properties of phospholipid bilayers and monolayers to better understand their biophysical functionalities as part of so-called "lung surfactant". Lung surfactant is a mixture of phospholipids and proteins packaged as multilamellar vesicles for delivery to the outer alveolar surface (air/water interface) as a monomolecular layer. Such monolayers provide mechanical stability in the alveolus during normal breathing, as well as some immunological protection. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants and the elderly occurs because of a lack of lung surfactant or improper formation and functioning of these materials. Consequently, from a pharmaceutical perspective, artificial phospholipid systems are needed as a replacement. Our major focus is on bilayer and monolayer phase behavior and those structural factors that promote membrane fusion during delivery to the alveolus and spreading at the air/water interface.

Current Student
Heidi Mansour (surface chemistry of phospholipids), hmmansour@pharmacy.wisc.edu