Tami Bond
Associate Professor
yark - at - uiuc.edu

Left: Bond Group as of 5/2009 - Bread Company, Urbana, IL
Clockwise from front L: Fran, Fang, Yanju, Alex, Ekbordin,
Colin, Tami, Beni; Center - Laura. More information below

Benjamin (Beni) Brem, Ph.D. candidate (co-advised by Mark Rood)
"Some aerosols are like teabags; they don't do much until they come into contact with water."
My thesis project investigates the effect of high humidities on optical properties of organic aerosols from biomass combustion. Generally, aerosol water uptake and aerosol size are a function of ambient relative humidity and aerosol chemical composition. For relative humidities below 85%, the effects on aerosol optical properties are well understood. On the other hand, due to condensation problems in the measurement equipment, optical properties at high relative humidities (85-98%) have rarely been measured. However, these properties at high relative humidities play an important role in the earth's radiative balance since the high relative humidities are the transition between aerosols and clouds. My research project goal is to develop measurement equipment to determine light scattering and absorption by aerosols at high relative humidities in a laboratory study. This equipment will then be used to measure the optical properties of organic aerosols from biomass combustion. The final goal is to develop a parameterization based on the obtained measurements which can be implemented into the next generation of climate models. For information about my "idle time" activities please visit: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/bbrem/www

Laura Fierce, M.S. Candidate (co-advised by Nicole Riemer)

Francisco Mena-Gonzalez, Ph.D. candidate, Fulbright Scholar
I have two projects, both related to aerosol optical properties. I am working with Benjamin Brem measuring and modeling the scattering and extinction of aerosols. Measurement results are compared with Mie Theory to obtain closure. My goal is to try to predict the scattering and extinction of the aerosols using a basic set of parameters, like the size distribution, refractive index and/or shape of the particles. The final objective is to develop a model capable of predicting the radiative forcing of aerosols in the atmosphere. In the first stage of this project, we are calibrating the SPEC using ammonium sulfate. In the next step, we will study the effect of relative humidity on scattering and absorption, and eventually we will change to other type of aerosols, like organic carbon and soot.

Alexander Torres-Negron, Ph.D. candidate
I am Alexander Torres, licensed professor from the University of Puerto at Mayaguez. My research interests are: aerosol transport and residence time; impacts of air pollutants on surface water quality; application of GIS and Remote Sensing for the air quality monitoring; and the comprehensive analysis of the fate and transport of pollutant in the atmosphere, surface water, and groundwater.

My current research is determining the wet removal of carbonaceous aerosols. Carbonaceous aerosols have optical characteristics that can change light scattering and absorption; thus, they can cool or warm the planet. The magnitude of this effect is related to the residence time of the aerosols in the atmosphere. The residence time is controlled by the removal rate, which is mainly wet deposition due to the small size of the aerosols. The experimental methodology to measure carbonaceous aerosols, which include black and organic carbon, has not been standardized until now; therefore, it is needed to develop a standard procedure to reduce particle losses, reactions, and contamination to finally obtain accurate data. Rain water samples are collected from the National Atmospheric Deposition Network, administrated by the Illinois State Water Survey.

Colin Zarzycki, M.S. candidate
My current research is focused on investigating black carbon (BC) variance in climate models and driving mechanisms behind these differences.  To date, I have primarily focused on black carbon above reflective surfaces (ice and clouds) because small changes in black carbon location, both spatially and temporally, can have a drastic influence on BC's atmospheric forcing in these cases.

While my research now involves longer timescales, I'm still a meteorologist at heart; my latest spare time obsession involves investigating the dynamics behind tropical cyclones forming and persisting in environments considered unfavorable, including out-of-season systems and storms originating or strengthing over low sea surface temperature (SST) or high shear conditions.

For other information about me, or my courses, research, and pseudo-pro bowling career, please visit www.colinzarzycki.com