AAAR 37th Annual Conference October 14 - October 18, 2019 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
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Ali Akherati, Graduate Research Assistant, Mechanical Eng. Dept., Colorado State University, Air Quality Modeling/Measurements/Consultant/Policy-related Positions
ALI AKHERATI, Colorado State University
Abstract Number: 680 Working Group: Meet the Job Seekers
Abstract My primary research focus has been on understanding secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from a variety of different emission sources, which I have explored through modeling and analysis of field and laboratory data. Since I started my PhD program, I have worked on four different projects.
In my first project, I explored the effects of SVOCs, IVOCs, multigenerational aging, and chamber vapor wall loss artifact on SOA formation over Southern California using a chemical transport model (CTM).
In my second project with collaborators, I estimated the SOA potential from Volatile Chemical Products (VCPs), which included a variety of different emitting sources such as personal care products. The results showed that VCPs are emerging as important precursors for SOA. My collaborators and I also performed smog chamber experiments with a few VCP precursors and measured D5-siloxane, a tracer for VCPs, over the Front Range in Colorado to quantify the importance of these precursor for regional air quality.
In my third project, I investigated how ozone and PM2.5 would change by the year 2035 due to the shutdown of two coal-fired power plants in Colorado. The health impact assessment, conducted by our collaborators, showed a broad health benefit for Colorado residents with the highest health benefits estimated for low-income families.
In my current project, I have developed a comprehensive aerosol box model, SOM-TOMAS, which simulates size-resolved aerosol microphysics, thermodynamics, and chemical aging of different organic compounds. The model is being used to simulate biomass burning SOA formation during FIREX field and laboratory campaign.
My anticipated graduation date is Fall of 2020. After graduation, I would like to expand my existing skillset in modeling/analysis of atmospheric chemistry in areas that include, but aren't limited to, pollution, climate, policy, remote sensing, and measurement techniques.