Aerosol Physics

Research topics

The research group of aerosol physics mainly deals with experimental-observational investigation and theoretical modeling of formation and evolution of aerosol particles and cluster ions. Scientific research area includes the following subjects: the formation of aerosol particles from atmospheric polluting and trace gases via gas-to-particle conversion process, including aerosol nucleation and the chemical-kinetic evolution of cluster air ions; the investigation of aerosol nucleation bursts, dynamics of aerosol particle and air ion size distributions and the factors influencing these processes in the atmosphere; the development of methods of electrical mobility spectrometry of aerosol particles and air ions and calibration technology of spectrometers.

Experimental research

Investigations are carried out in the aerosol laboratory in Physicum equipped with contemporary devices, in the Tahkuse air monitoring station (Pärnu county), Järvselja SMEAR station (Tartu county) and at measuring sites in Tartu and Valgjärve (Põlva county).

Obtained knowledge provides a basis for understanding the mechanisms of atmospheric aerosol formation and the role of aerosols as a factor in weather and climate systems, for applications in atmospheric pollution modeling and prognosis, as well as for synthesis of nano-structures from the gas phase in nanotechnology.

An important part of the research work is based on electrical aerosol and air ion mobility spectrometers, the world-class original devices developed in our laboratory and produced by the small Estonian company Airel Ltd.

Aerosol spectrometers of EEPS and FMPS are produced by the USA company TSI Inc under the license of AIREL Ltd.