Special Symposia

Aerosols Spanning Spatial Scales: Measurement Networks to Models and Satellites.

Organizers:
Jingqiu Mao (University of Alaska Fairbanks)
L.-W. Antony Chen (University of Nevada, Las Vegas)
Pawan Gupta (NASA)
Rohit Mathur (EPA)

Aerosol research has evolved rapidly in the past few decades, with new major developments forthcoming on several fronts, including ground measurement networks, numerical models, and satellites. Integrating these tools and datasets to improve our understanding of atmospheric aerosol emissions, transport, transformation, and their impact on air quality and climate remains a major challenge. This special symposium invites presentations on integrating measurement networks, models, and satellites spanning different spatial (local, regional, and global) and temporal (minutes, hours, daily, monthly) scales to better understand physical and chemical processes regulating distribution and abundance of atmospheric aerosols and guiding the next generation of aerosol research and applications.

 

Aerosol-ecosystem interactions

Organizers:
Celia Faiola (UC Irvine)
Andrew Ault (University of Michigan)
Hosein Foroutan (Virginia Tech)
Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertz (Virginia Tech)
Cassie Gaston (University of Miami)

Aerosols and ecosystems impact each other in wide-ranging ways and the interactions are not one-sided. The gasses and particles emitted by land plants, marine and freshwater algae, and other organisms strongly influence the composition, radiative properties, and health effects of atmospheric aerosols on local, regional, and global scales. At the same time, the presence of aerosols in an environment and their deposition to surfaces can alter the health, growth, and function of the ecosystem as well as the sequestration of carbon dioxide into the terrestrial biosphere and ocean. This symposium seeks to examine these relationships and the ways that aerosols both influence and are influenced by ecosystems. A non-exhaustive list of example topics includes:

• Impacts of aerosol deposition of nutrients or toxins on ecosystem function and carbon cycling
• Effects of long- and short-term ecosystem changes on aerosol formation, hygroscopicity, and optical properties,
• Emission of primary aerosols and secondary aerosol precursors from vegetation, algal blooms, and other biological sources,
• Impacts of aerosol-driven changes in the quantity and properties of light on ecosystem health and productivity.

We invite abstracts on any research across the full range of physical, chemical, and biological interactions between aerosols and ecosystems. Aerosols may be primary or secondary, and of inorganic, organic, or biological origin. Ecosystem types can include aquatic or terrestrial systems that are natural or managed. We welcome projects using a variety of methodological approaches, including laboratory experiments, field observations, modeling across scales, and remote sensing. Inter- and cross-disciplinary presentations are welcome and encouraged!

 

Aerosol Science of Infectious Diseases: Lessons and open questions on models, transmission and mitigation

Organizers:
Joshua Santarpia (University of Nebraska Medical Center)
Justin Taylor (Noblis)

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the resurgence of other respiratory viruses, and emerging evidence about the role of aerosols in disease transmission continues to highlight the need for a better understanding of the role aerosols play in infectious disease transmission. This special symposium, a continuation of the discussion that AAAR and its members have led over the last few years, provides an opportunity to share and discuss what we know, what we have learned, and what still needs to be understood about aerosols and infectious disease. Topics focusing on any aspects of multidisciplinary research or discussions regarding the science of aerosols relating to infectious diseases will be considered. In particular, abstracts covering the following topics are encouraged:

• Transmission: Fundamental science and mechanisms of how SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens are generated, emitted, and transmitted. Presentations may cover studies from the laboratory, human and animal models, numerical models, epidemiological approaches, or other perspectives.
• Prevention and mitigation: Presentations may focus on masks, filtration, ventilation, pathogen disinfection, or other novel approaches, and may include modeling, laboratory, population epidemiology, or other studies.
• Connecting science to the public response and policy, including strategies for improving public understanding and motivating proper public health guidance via direct interaction with governmental and public agencies, as well as by utilizing news, social media, or other avenues.

It is anticipated that additional components of the special symposium will be organized outside the hours of the technical session (evening or immediately post-conference) to allow more time for discussion related to the intersections between these complex topics, including lessons that have recently been learned and areas that still require focused discussion and work.

 

Identifying and addressing disparate health and social impacts of exposure to aerosols and other contaminants across continents, communities, and microenvironments

Organizers:
Krystal Pollitt (Yale University)
Albert Presto (Carnegie Mellon University)

Variations in air contaminant concentrations and sources create distinct environmental exposures. These exposure differences are a form of distributive injustice, which is the inequitable distribution of environmental risks and benefits across populations. While interest has recently increased in characterizing air contaminant exposures and the impact for environmental justice, focus has been on combustion-related emissions (both primary and secondary) in the Global North at a regional scale. Significant knowledge gaps exist in terms of both social and health impacts of differing air contaminant exposures. For example, less is known about exposure disparities and the sources driving those disparities between the Global North and Global South, and exposures to many novel or non-traditional sources of air contaminants are poorly characterized in the Global North. Similarly, the potential health impacts of these disparate exposures often remain unquantified.

The goal of this symposium is to bring together researchers with cross-cutting interests focusing on air contaminant exposure disparities and the resulting social and health inequities worldwide.

Submission topics considered for this special symposium are intentionally broad and can range from spatial variations of non-combustion aerosols in the Global North, assessments of air contaminant exposure in the Global South, novel sources and methods to detect markers of these sources and impacts on air quality and human health.

We invite abstracts that address, but are not limited to:

• Methods to improve air contaminant exposure estimates, especially in the Global South
• Measurements and methods to quantify exposures to mixtures of novel sources of air contaminants, including mechanically-emitted particles from vehicle sources (e.g., brake and tire wear) and non-combustion sources
• Exposure disparities and environmental injustice in both the Global North and Global South
• Exposure assessment and air contaminant source apportionment in the Global South
• Indoor exposures and methods to reduce exposure indoors