Department of ChemistryBeth Kautzman
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Assistant Professor Analytical Chemistry Office: 528C Smith Phone: (410)704-3046 E-mail: kkautzman@towson.edu |
| Education | B.A. (2001) Hendrix College, magna cum laude with Departmental Distinction Ph.D. (2007) University of California, Berkeley Postdoctoral Scholar (2008-2010) California Institute of Technology NRC Postdoctoral Associate (2011) National Institute of Standards and Technology |
| Teaching |
Introduction to Analytical Chemistry (CHEM 210) |
| Research |
Aerosol species, particularly those aerosol derived from combustion sources, are known to alter the Earth’s energy balance through the processes of radiative scattering and absorption. However, the extent of these energy perturbations remain largely unknown. The current goal of our research is to better constrain these radiative effects by developing an understanding of the chemical and optical properties of atmospheric aerosols. To this end, we have developed a two-project approach to determine the chemical and physical properties of aerosol species:
The first project is aimed at the chemical speciation of local ambient aerosol. Utilizing filter sampling techniques in conjunction with a variety of analytical characterization methods, we aim to determine the chemical composition of aerosol comprising the local air mass. Through these speciation/characterization methods we can determine potential pollution sources (anthropogenic and biogenic in nature) and elucidate chemical formation mechanisms for ambient aerosol species. Our second project directly interrogates the optical properties of carbonaceous and oxidized organic aerosol using cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS). Comparing these measurements with theory permits determination of the complex refractive index (RI), which defines the scattering and absorption properties of the aerosol. A description of the RI as a function of aerosol composition under well-defined laboratory conditions allows for a greater understanding of the radiative properties of aerosols under atmospherically-relevant conditions. This information, when combined with source information, provides the building blocks for generating climate models to properly estimate the local and global atmospheric environment. |
| Selected Publications |
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Faculty & Staff
Department of Chemistry
Smith Hall 543
Towson University
8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252