Master Forum|Water uptake of atmospheric aerosols: from the Millikan oil droplet experiment to the haze in the North China Plain

Topic: Water uptake of atmospheric aerosols: from the Millikan oil droplet experiment to the haze in the North China Plain

Speaker: Prof. Chak K. CHAN

Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Time: 16:10pm-17:40pm

Venue: Governing Board Meeting Room, Dao Yuan Building

Language: English

Abstract:

        Particulate matter pollution is one of the major environmental problems that have global, regional and local impacts. It affects human health, visibility, and global climate change. Water is the most abundant species that partitions between the gas phase and the particle phase.  By absorbing water, atmospheric particles can drastically change their physical and chemical properties. In this talk, we will discuss examples of laboratory and field studies on the water uptake of particles and how aqueous phase reactions can contribute to the haze in NCP.

Speaker’s Profile:

        Professor Chak Chan is currently Dean and Chair Professor in School of Energy and Environment (SEE) at City University of Hong Kong (CityU). He obtained BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1986 and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 1992. He joined the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) as Assistant Professor in 1992 and rose to the rank of Professor in 2006 in Chemical Engineering. In 2010, he was appointed Founding Head of Division of Environment. He joined CityU as the second Dean of SEE in 2015.

         Professor Chan has over 30 years of research experience in air pollution and aerosol science.  He specializes in aerosol water uptake and phase transformation, gas-aerosol interactions and the formation of secondary aerosols in the atmosphere. Professor Chan received the Haagen Smit Award of Atmospheric Environment in 2015, Second Prize of the State Natural Science Award in 2010, and First Prize of the Natural Science Award in 2007. He was the first winner of the Asian Young Aerosol Scientists Award.  He has been Editor-in-Chief of Atmospheric Environment since 2008. Professor Chan has published over 210 papers, receiving total citation of more than 11,600 for his papers with an h-index of 53.