Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
PhD Project Template
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Use one form per project
Please complete & submit to international@nuigalway.ie as soon as possible, and by 27/11/2012
In your email, begin the subject line with [SWB] (be sure to use square brackets) to ensure that
your email is filed correctly. Emails will be automatically filed
PI name & contact
details:
School:
Dr. Harald Berresheim
email: harald.berresheim@nuigalway.ie
Tel: +353-91-495705
School of Physics
Has project been agreed
with head (or nominee) of
proposed registration
school?
Yes
Research Centre /
group affiliation:
Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies (C-CAPS)
Research group /
centre website:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/c-caps/
PI website / link to CV: http://www.nuigalway.ie/physics/staff_pages/h_berresheim/index.html
Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max):
Previous work in Brazil: with Prof. Paulo Artaxo of Univ. Sao Paulo; INPA, and with FEEMA (Rio de
Janeiro). Major research areas: atmospheric chemistry & physics, free radicals (OH), aerosol
nucleation, aerosol composition, emissions from oceans, plants, and volcanoes, climate change.
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
Atmospheric oxidation of sulfur compounds in the marine environment
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
Biogenic, volcanic (from Iceland), and anthropogenic sulfur emissions contribute to transboundary
air pollution over the NE Atlantic. Oxidation of major sulfur compounds such as SO2 and
dimethylsulfide (DMS) by OH leads to formation of sulfuric and methanesulfonic acid which can
significantly alter aerosol and cloud properties in the marine atmosphere. A chemical ionization
mass spectrometry (CIMS) instrument will be used at Mace Head station to measure OH, H2SO4, and
MSA at 30 sec time resolution. Aerosol sulfate and methanesulfonate ions are concurrently
measured by aerosol mass spectrometry (HR-TOF-AMS). A fluorescent SO2 monitor shall be acquired
for the project. We have recently discovered new oxidant species using CIMS which may compete
with OH in removing sulfur and other pollutants in the marine atmosphere. The student shall
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
operate the CIMS and establish a seasonal/multi-annual budget for H2SO4 and MSA based on the
measurements. Furthermore, the project aims to identify the nature of the unknown oxidant
species and assess their relative importance.
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Physics, Chemistry, Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorology, Environmental Sciences, Ocean Sciences
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only
one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)
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Health and Biomedical Sciences
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
Minerals
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technology of prevention and remediation of natural disasters
Biodiversity and Bioprospection
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders
arrangements):
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): _ _Y___
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): _____
Suitable for either/Don’t know: _____