This thesis describes the analysis of coastal field measurements of atmospheric aerosols and trace gases near Houston, TX, aimed at investigating the influence of regional shipping emissions on coastal aerosol mass loadings, composition, and formation mechanisms. Data collection utilized a mobile laboratory containing both particulate matter and trace gas instrumentation. Positive matrix factorization was used to apportion measured organic aerosol into five distinct factors. Further analysis suggests that one factor is associated with emissions from shipping vessels in the Gulf of Mexico. Measured inorganic aerosol was apportioned between anthropogenic and biogenic sources using published biogenic ratios of methanesulfonic acid and non-sea-salt sulfate, revealing that the majority of submicron inorganic aerosol produced over the Gulf of Mexico is anthropogenic. Subsequent analysis using the weighted potential source contribution function and published emissions inventories supports the attribution of this anthropogenic aerosol to commercial shipping vessels. Backward trajectory analysis suggests that shipping vessel emissions may influence organic aerosol composition, potentially leading to altered physical characteristics such as the capacity to absorb water. Finally, zero-dimensional modeling suggests that inland advection of anthropogenic marine aerosol may promote secondary organic aerosol formation in the aqueous phase over the Houston region. The results of this thesis highlight the continuing influence of shipping emissions on coastal aerosol characteristics near Houston, TX, and provide support for further emission regulations.