Atmospheric Field Study at the University of Michigan Biological Station: Chelsea Rosenkrance, Debra Garvey, and Kerry O’Donnell
Chelsea
Rosenkrance Debra
Garvey Kerry
O’Donnell
Major: Chemical
Engineering Chemistry Chemical
Engineering
Year:
Junior Junior Junior
University: Washington
State
U U
of the Virgin
Islands Pennsylvania
State U
Advisors: Prof.
Tim
VanReken Prof.
Tom
Jobson
Prof. Tom Jobson
Undergraduates Chelsea Rosenkrance, Debra Garvey, and Kerry O’Donnell have a unique research opportunity to help conduct a field study at the University of Michigan Biological Station in Pellston, Michigan as part of their summer research. Traveling with them are faculty advisors Tim VanReken, Brian Lamb, Tom Jobson, and Shelley Pressley.
For the first three weeks of WSU’s summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in WSU’s Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, the students were trained on instruments that they would use in the field such as nephelometers, a proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer, and Dasbi/TECO ozone instruments. Then for two weeks, the three undergraduates traveled to northern Michigan to conduct research in a mixed-height forest using WSU’s mobile laboratory. After collecting their data, the undergraduates returned to WSU to analyze their data and write reports.
The students’ research deals with investigating the role of fast atmospheric chemical processing within the forest canopy in Michigan. The project is known as Community Atmosphere-Biosphere Interactions Experiments (CABINEX). Garvey’s research pertains to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted into the atmosphere from a variety of sources, such as diesel exhaust or biogenic hydrocarbons. In Michigan, Garvey used the proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer to measure VOCs in the forest.
Junior Debra Garvey presenting her work and results at WSU's REU 2009 Poster Session.
O’Donnell’s research focuses on the ozone mixing ratios at three different heights in the Michigan forest. Ozone is part of a complex system of reactions that involves aerosols, VOCs, and others. The three sample locations include near ground level (5m), mid-canopy level (15m), and above canopy level (33m). Air from these sample locations is pumped into the mobile laboratory where the Dasibi/TECO ozone instruments are housed. O’ Donnell’s data collected shows a general trend of increasing ozone with height in the forest.
Junior Kerry O'Donnell preparing to collect data in the forest of Michigan.
Rosenkrance will maintain and analyze the data from two integrating nephelometers, which are located at ground level and above canopy. Nephelometers can be used to measure the light scattering of particles in the atmosphere. The specific goal of her research is to identify how the aerosol scattering signal responds to changes in the size and composition of the particle.
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Junior Chelsea Rosenkrance with equipment that will be packed up and sent to Michigan with the WSU LAR research team.
"These students have a unique opporunity to be involved in a large scale atmospheric chemistry campaign that involves mainting instruments in the field," states assistant research Shelley Pressley. "Which I am certain," she adds, "that they have discovered it isn't as easy as they thought it would be."
“I’m enjoying the program so far,” says O’Donnell. “The research I’m conducting is very different from my proposed major so it is nice to get a new academic perspective.” She had heard about the REU program at WSU after searching the National Science Foundation website for undergraduate research experience.
“Undergraduate research looks great on your resume,” Rosenkrance states when asked about the benefits of participating in the program, “especially when the research is very independent-based.”
O’Donnell plans to continue researching with internships after she graduates from Pennsylvania State University, while Rosenkrance plans to work for an industry after graduation.