Aerosol and gas-phase characteristics in relation to meteorology: Case studies in populated arid settings
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Ewan Colin Crosbie
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Sorooshian, Armin
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
The University of Arizona
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2015
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
103
GENERAL NOTES
Text of Note
Committee members: Betterton, Eric; Zeng, Xubin
NOTES PERTAINING TO PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC.
Text of Note
Place of publication: United States, Ann Arbor; ISBN=978-1-321-81115-5
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Ph.D.
Discipline of degree
Atmospheric Sciences
Body granting the degree
The University of Arizona
Text preceding or following the note
2015
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Atmospheric aerosols and trace gases are a highly relevant component of the climate system affecting atmospheric radiative transfer and the hydrologic cycle. In arid and semi-arid regions, where cloud cover is often low and precipitation is generally scarce and sporadic, the driving processes accounting for the production, loss and transport of atmospheric constituents are often distinctly different from other climates. In arid regions, the same circulation dynamics that suppress cloud formation can be responsible for creating strong subsidence inversions, which cap atmospheric mixing and trap pollutants close to the surface, often placing populated arid regions high on global rankings of air pollution concerns. In addition, low soil moisture can encourage wind-blown dust emissions, which can be a significant fraction of the total aerosol loading in both coarse and fine modes on a mass basis.