Dr. Sarah D. Brooks

Research Interests

Currently, a poor understanding of particles in the atmosphere and the clouds that form on them limits our ability to understand and quantify global warming. The focus of our research is to develop a better understanding of how natural and anthropogenic aerosol particles may influence aerosol/cloud interactions on local to global scales. Using novel analytical techniques, we can observe ice cloud nucleation under atmospheric conditions. Through a combination of field studies and laboratory experiments, we plan to explore how concentration, chemical composition, surface chemical reactions, and shape of aerosols may impact cloud formation and properties.
Recent air quality studies in Texas have shown that chemical and particulate pollutants can travel significant distances and therefore may change air quality and aerosol/cloud interactions throughout an entire region. In future statewide air quality studies, we will investigate how pollutant aerosols influence regional cloud formation and properties. Also, by participating in large scale global campaigns, we hope to explore aerosol which act as good ice nuclei under a broad range of compositions and atmospheric conditions.
In laboratory studies, we will investigate ice nucleation of aerosols with known chemical compositions. We will also explore the chemical reactions occurring on the surface of the aerosols and attempt to understand how these processes alter the aerosols and their role in cloud formation.
These combined studies may provide a better understanding of complex aerosol/cloud interactions, and therefore may improve our ability to predict human impact on future climate change.
 

Selected Publications

Hiranuma, N.*(student of mine), S.D. Brooks, D.C.O. Thornton, G. Schade, and B.W. Auvermann, “Atmospheric ammonia concentrations at an open-air cattle feeding facility,”J. Air and Water Management., in press.

Atkinson, D.B. L. Ziemba, R. Griffin, N. Hiranuma*(student of mine), S.D. Brooks, B. Lefer, J. Flynn, R. Perna, B. Rappengluck, W. Luke, P. Kelley, "Extensive Aerosol Optical Properties and Aerosol Mass Related Measurements during TRAMP/TexAQS 2006 - Implications for PM Complianceand Planning, Atmospheric Environment, in press.

Brooks, S.D., M. Gonzales*, R. Farias*, “Using surface tension measurements to understand how pollution can influence cloud formation, fog, and precipitation,” Journal of Chemical Education,in press.

Atkinson, D.B., P. Massoli, N. T. O'Neill, P. K. Quinn, S. D. Brooks, and B. Lefer, “Comparison of in situ and columnar aerosol spectral measurements during TexAQS-GoMACCS 2006: testing parameterizations for estimating aerosol fine mode properties” Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 9, 17465-17494, 2009.

Fornea, A.P.*(student of mine), S.D. Brooks, J. B. Dooley, and A. Saha, “Heterogeneous Freezing of Ice on Atmospheric Aerosols Containing Ash, Soot, and Soil, J. Geophys. Res., 114, D13201, doi:10.1029/2009JD011958, 2009.

DeMott, P. J., K. Sassen, M. R. Poellot, D. Baumgardner, D. C. Rogers, S.
D. Brooks, A. J. Prenni, and S. M. Kreidenweis, Correction to “African dust aerosols as atmospheric ice nuclei”, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L07808, doi:10.1029/2009GL037639, 2009.

Hiranuma, N.*, S.D. Brooks, B. Auvermann, and R. Littleton, “Chemical and
Hygroscopic Properties of Agricultural Aerosols,” Atmospheric Environment, 42 (2008), 1983-1994.

A.J. Prenni, P.J. DeMott, C. Twohy, M.R. Poellot, S.M. Kreidenweis, D.C. Rogers, S.D. Brooks, M. Richardson, and A.J. Heymsfield, “Examinations of ice formation processes in Florida cumuli using ice nuclei measurements of anvil ice crystal particle residues,” J. Geophys. Res., Vol 112, D10221, doi:10.1029/2006JD007549,2007.

D.J. Cziczo, P.J. DeMott, S.D. Brooks, A.J. Prenni, D.S. Thomson, D. Baumgardner, J.C. Wilson, S.M. Kreidenweis, and D.M. Murphy, "Observations of Organic Species and Atmospheric Ice Formation," J. Geophys. Res. Letts., Vol. 31, L12166, doi: 10.1029/2004GL019822, 2004.

Brooks, S.D., P.J. DeMott, and S.M. Kreidenweis, "Water Uptake by Particles containing Humic Materials and Mixtures of Humic Materials with Ammonium Sulfate," Atmos. Environ., 38(13) 1859-1868, 2004.

Brooks, S.D., O.B. Toon, M.A. Tolbert, D. Baumgardner, B. Gandrud, E. Browell, H. Flentje, J.C. Wilson, "Polar Stratospheric Clouds during SOLVE/THESEO: Comparison of Lidar Observations with In-Situ Measurements," J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 109,(D2), D02109, doi:10.1029/2003JD003912, 2004.

Brooks, S.D., D. Baumgardner, B. Gandrud, J. E. Dye, M. J. Northway, D.W. Fahey, T.P. Bui, O.B. Toon, M.A. Tolbert, "Measurements of Large Stratospheric Particles in the Arctic Polar Vortex," J. Geophys. Res., 108 (D20), 4652, 2003.

Wise, M.E., S.D. Brooks, R.M. Garland, D.J. Cziczo, S.T. Martin, and M.A. Tolbert, "Solubility and Freezing Effects of Fe2+ and Mg2+ in H2SO4 Solutions Representative of Upper Tropospheric and Lower Stratospheric Sulfate Particles," J. Geophys. Res., 108 (D14), 4434, 2003.

DeMott, P.J., K. Sassen, M.R. Poellot, D. Baumgardner, D.C. Rogers, S.D. Brooks, A.J. Prenni, and S.M. Kreidenweis, "African Dust Aerosols as Atmospheric Ice Nuclei," Geophys. Res. Letts., 30 (14): Art. No. 173, 2003.

Brooks, S.D., R.M. Garland, M.E. Wise, M. Cushing, E. Hewitt, A. J. Prenni, and M.A. Tolbert, "Deliquescence and Efflorescence of Mixed Maleic Acid/Ammonium Sulfate Aerosols," J. Geophys. Res., 108(D15), 4487, 2003.

Brooks, S.D., M.E. Wise, M. Cushing, and M.A. Tolbert, "Deliquescence Behavior of Organic/Ammonium Sulfate Aerosol," Geophys. Res. Letts., 29 (19), 23- 1-4, 2002.

Prenni, A.J., M.E. Wise, S.D. Brooks, and M.A. Tolbert, "Ice Nucleation in Sulfuric Acid and Ammonium Sulfate," J. Geophys. Res.,106(D3), 3037-3044, 2001.

Onasch, T.B., R.L. Siefert, S.D. Brooks, A.J. Prenni, B. Murray, M.A. Wilson, and M.A. Tolbert, "Infrared Spectroscopic Study of the Deliquescence and Efflorescence of Ammonium Sulfate Aerosol as a Function of Temperature," J. Geophys. Res., 104(D17). 21,317-21,326, 1999.