Abstract
Students will join a team of researchers measuring black carbon aerosol (aka soot) aboard a National Science Foundation airplane during the
NASA INSPYRE project, which will be based out of Broomfield, CO this summer. As the climate warms, we are seeing an increased incidence of very large fires; these fires can create their own weather systems and transport fire-generated particles and gases over large distances and to extremely high altitudes where they can have unexpected impacts. Colgate students will work with Professor Perring and with scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to operate and maintain a Single Particle Soot Photometer during the mission and to analyze data and prepare manuscripts describing our findings. Students will gain experience with custom instrumentation, multi-agency collaborative science and analysis of data to address atmospheric chemistry questions relevant to air quality and climate. Students will spend part of their time on campus getting acquainted with the background literature and analysis software and will then travel to Colorado in late July and August.