Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Research centre

Supervisors

Associate Professor Branka Miljevic
Position
Associate Professor
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Science
Professor Zoran Ristovski
Position
Professor
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Science

Overview

Aerosol liquid water content (ALWC) is a ubiquitous constituent in atmospheric aerosol particles. The degree of ALWC present in aerosol particles is influenced various factors, including relative humidity, temperature, particle mass, size distribution, and aerosol composition. Comprehensive analyses on ALWC have been conducted in the Northern Hemisphere, but similar work has rarely been done in the Southern Hemisphere due to the scarcity of aerosol particle measurements. In the atmosphere, ALWC scatters radiation and reduces visibility, significantly affecting air quality, weather, and climate. Insufficient knowledge of ALWC can increase human society's vulnerability to extreme weather events and a warmer climate.

Research engagement

The use of real-time aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS) has helped in analysing the inorganic and organic composition of aerosols in various locations across Australia over the past decade. This study aims to conduct a thorough analysis using the AMS data collected over the years to estimate Aerosol Liquid Water Content (ALWC).

Research activities

The student will conduct the project with a team of scientists with strong background in aerosol science and data science. This project will involve the following:

  1. Summarise the chemical speciation data measured in various locations across Australia.
  2. Deploy state-of-the-art thermodynamic modelling to estimate ALWC based on measured chemical composition data.
  3. Evaluate the dependence of ALWC on aerosol concentrations, size distribution, chemical composition, and meteorology.

Outcomes

This work will provide comprehensive insights into the spatial and temporal variations of ALWC over Australia.

Skills and experience

This project suits those with the following background:

  • Earth Science
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Engineering

Basic programming skills in R, Python or other programming languages are desired

Start date

1 November, 2024

End date

1 February, 2026

Location

Gardens Point

Keywords

Contact

Contact Dr. Zijun Li on email zijun.li@qut.edu.au for more information.