Tech News Summary:
- NC A&T and LANL have joined forces for the ACACIA project, which aims to study the optical and chemical properties of absorbent aerosols of combustion of aged and fresh biomass for climate models, specifically burning biomass fuels native to Africa.
- The collaboration between NC A&T and LANL enhances the university’s leading expertise in air quality and African biomass fuel combustion by using LANL’s advanced instrumentation to validate measurements taken in the laboratory of the university.
- The team used advanced instruments like Photoacoustic Soot Spectrometer (PASS-3) and the Cavity Attenuated Phase Shift Single Scattering Albedo Monitor (CAPS PMssa) to collect data on the light absorption and scattering properties of generated primary particles, and found that SSA is wavelength-dependent in latent burns but not in flame-dominated burns.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) have joined forces to investigate the burning behavior of African biomass fuels. The study aims to unlock the secrets of African biomass fuel burning aerosols and their impact on the environment.
Africa is known for its high levels of biomass burning, which occur naturally and ubiquitously across the continent. These fires release significant amounts of aerosols that have been shown to affect climate, air quality, and human health. Despite these effects, there is still much that is unknown about the specific properties of these aerosols.
The collaboration between N.C. A&T and LANL seeks to address this gap in knowledge, using a combination of experimental and modeling techniques to investigate the fundamental characteristics of African biomass fuel burning aerosols. This research will focus on the chemical composition and physical properties of the aerosols, as well as their impact on the environment.
The partnership between N.C. A&T and LANL brings together experts in atmospheric science, chemistry, and modeling to tackle this complex issue. The research will be led by Dr. Tarek Abdel-Fattah of N.C. A&T and Dr. Manvendra Dubey of LANL, both of whom have extensive experience in their respective fields.
The study is expected to yield important insights into the environmental impacts of African biomass burning, including their contribution to climate change and air quality. This knowledge will be valuable not only for researchers, but also for policymakers and stakeholders who are working to mitigate the negative effects of biomass burning on people and the environment.
The collaboration between N.C. A&T and LANL is an exciting development in the field of atmospheric science and has the potential to make a significant impact on our understanding of the impacts of African biomass burning. The results of this research will be eagerly anticipated by scientists, policymakers, and the public alike.