The impacts of regional shipping emissions on coastal submicron aerosols near Houston, TX

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dc.contributor.advisorGriffin, Roberten_US
dc.creatorSchulze, Ben Christopheren_US
dc.date.accessioned2019-05-17T14:33:28Zen_US
dc.date.available2019-05-17T14:33:28Zen_US
dc.date.created2018-05en_US
dc.date.issued2018-04-20en_US
dc.date.submittedMay 2018en_US
dc.date.updated2019-05-17T14:33:28Zen_US
dc.description.abstractThis 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.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationSchulze, Ben Christopher. "The impacts of regional shipping emissions on coastal submicron aerosols near Houston, TX." (2018) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/105692">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/105692</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/105692en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectAtmospheric aerosolsen_US
dc.subjectshipping emissionsen_US
dc.subjectfactor analysisen_US
dc.subjectHoustonen_US
dc.titleThe impacts of regional shipping emissions on coastal submicron aerosols near Houston, TXen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentCivil and Environmental Engineeringen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineeringen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen_US
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