Our Research

What We Do

We study the phase diagrams of aqueous systems of atmospheric importance. These phase diagrams allow the prediction of the phases which are thermodynamically stable at any given temperature and concentration. Pictured above is a simple binary phase diagram. As solid particles in the upper troposphere warm at equilibrium, their melting temperature can be predicted. Therefore, using our phase diagram models, the phases which are present in these cirrus cloud particles can be predicted. The composition of the aerosol determines its ability to scatter and absorb solar radiation and act as a surface on which reactions occur. These particles consist of very complex chemical systems; thus, our phase diagrams consisting of inorganic an organic compounds provide simple models for the atmosphere.