Understanding atmospheric organic aerosols via factor analysis of aerosol mass spectrometry: a review

Organic species are an important but poorly characterized constituent of airborne particulate matter. A quantitative understanding of the organic fraction of particles (organic aerosol, OA) is necessary to reduce some of the largest uncertainties that confound the assessment of the radiative forcing of climate and air quality management policies. In recent years, aerosol mass spectrometry has been increasingly relied upon for highly time-resolved characterization of OA chemistry and for elucidation of aerosol sources and lifecycle processes. Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometers (AMS) are particularly widely used, because of their ability to quantitatively characterize the size-resolved composition of submicron…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 0919189, ATM-0919189, 0528170
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: DE-FG02-11ER65293, DE-SC0006035, DE-FG02-, FG02-08ER64627, DE-FG02
• NO
  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• OO
  Office of Science

  Award: DE-FG02-11ER65293