| Although organic N is known to be important (20-40% of total particulate nitrogen), the details of the role of organic N (e.g. sources and reactions leading to its formation, role in particle nucleation, health effects, contribution to brown carbon and role in the long-range transport of reactive nitrogen) are less well understood. Major potential sources of nitrogen pollution in the hydrosphere commonly have characteristic 15N/14N ratios. The new NanoSIMS ion microprobe technique introduces new scales to sulfur isotope measurements in aerosol science. My thesis aims to develop a new method that allows nitrogen isotope analysis of individual aerosol particles. This introduces a new scale into the study of nitrogen isotope ratios of aerosol particles by allowing direct comparison of particle chemistry, morphology and isotopic composition. This will help to understand different sources of organic and inorganic N, primary emissions and secondary processes in atmosphere. |
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