| Aerosols are small particles suspended in air, which form the most serious air pollution problem in the Netherlands and in Europe. Anthropogenic aerosols are also the most uncertain factor in the assessment of the changing radiative balance of our planet, which causes climate change. One of the biggest challenges is to determine the origin of organic carbon in aerosols, and this is in fact the main goal of the proposed project. To reach this goal, we will quantify the relative contributions of fossil and non-fossil emissions to organic carbon in the Netherlands. The origin will be determined by measurements and modeling of the radio-isotope 14C in aerosols. Fossil carbon does not contain 14C, emissions from plants and other biogenic sources have the typical contemporary 14C signature. 14C analysis thus provides unambiguous information about the source categories. This approach has recently provided unique information in Switzerland, and we will apply an improved methodology to the situation in the Netherlands, a region with the highest aerosol loading in Europe. Furthermore, we will not only supply valuable data, but for the first time quantitatively analyze the 14C content of aerosols with European air quality models. The innovative combination of measurements and modeling will provide information on air quality which is of highest societal relevance. Furthermore, the project establishes a new link between several Dutch research groups with top-expertise in atmospheric chemistry, isotope research, aerosol research and air quality modeling. |
