Modeling Aerosol Formation, Transport and Removal

Gandionco, Karl Adrian BS ChE-5 HOSTING INSTITUTION College of Engineering, Xavier University SEMINAR DATE AND VENUE 10:30 AM 12:00 NN February 13, 2014 AVR 5, Xavier University SEMINAR TITLE Modeling Aerosol Formation, Transport and Removal SPEAKERS NAME AND AFFILIATIONS

Engr. Maria Theresa Isla-Cabaraban, PhD

Associate Professor, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan Present American Geophysical Union (AGU) July 2012 - Present Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA), Mid-Atlantic States Section, Central NY Chapter. July 2010 - Present

Forests and Natural Resources Research Society of the Philippines, Inc. (FORESPI). 2007 - Present. Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChE) - Cagayan de Oro Chapter Member, Board of Directors, 2005 - 2007 Vice-President for Academe, 2003 - 2004 Secretary, 2001 2003

THE SPEAKER Engr. Maria Theresa Isla-Cabaraban is an associate professor in the Chemical Engineering Department of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan. Engr. Cabaraban finished her bachelors degree in Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan in year 1988. In 1991 she went to University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines to study for her masters of Science in Chemical Engineering. She finished here masters in year 1995. After taking her masters Engr. Cabaraban went back to Xavier University to teach again. In year 2008, Engr. Cabaraban went to New York City to earn her PhD degree at SUNY - College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York. Environmental Resources Engineering. Engr. Cabaraban finished her PhD in year 2008.

THE SEMINAR One of the series lectures in the celebration of the College of Engineering Days of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan is the talk by Engr. Maria Theresa IslaCabaraban, PhD. Engr. Cabarabans talk is entitled as Modelling Aerosol Formation, Transport and Removal. Engr. Cabaraban started her talk by giving the outline of her presentations. As according to her outline and as she discussed, the topics are background concepts of particulate maters and aerosols, air quality modelling and potential future work of Chemical Engineers in the field of air quality modelling. Engr. Cabaraban discussed about the background concepts of aerosols and particulate matters. As she presented, atmospheric aerosols are particulate matter that are fine solid and liquid particles that are suspended in air. As she continued the human hair is fifty to seventy micrometer but fine particles are thirty percent less than. Engr. Cabaraban also said that particles in the atmosphere or in the surroundings facilitate the scattering of light around the world. The process of the scattering of light is called the radiative effects. These radiative effects are also scattering of radiation and they can be explained through the Rayleigh scattering, Mie scattering and geometric scattering. Rayleigh scattering is the elastic scattering of light or other electromagnetic radiation by particles much smaller than the wavelength of the light, which may be individual atoms or molecules. It can occur when light travels through transparent solids and liquids, but is most prominently seen in gases. Mie scattering is responsible for the white appearance of

clouds. Mie scattering occurs when the wavelengths of visible light are more or less equally scattered. After discussing about the effects of particles in the scattering of light Engr. Cabaraban added that particles also have some effects to the climate change or perturbation. As she said particles cause atmospheric heating and localize surface cooling. As based from her presentation, among the particles in the atmosphere black carbon aerosols are the main cause of the localized surface cooling because they absorb light rather than reflecting to the surroundings. Engr. Cabaraban also discussed about the types of aerosols such as primary and secondary. After discussing the concepts that are pre-requisite in the understanding of air quality modelling she then discussed about the different air quality models that are used in the discipline. Afterwards Engr. Cabaraban presented the potential jobs of Chemical Engineering in air quality modelling. YOUR THOUGHTS The talk of Engr. Cabaraban on Modelling Aerosol Formation, Transport and Removal is very significant and very interesting. It is very significant because it is related to the environment specifically in air. The study of Engr. Cabaraban can be applied or used here in the Philippines; it can be used to assess and simulate a probable air emissions and contamination. Air quality modelling is very appropriate to be used in Cagayan de Oro and in the whole Philippines. Nowadays in the Philippines the people and the government are not very conscious or concern about what is happening now in the atmosphere. There are coal-powered plants in the Philippines and there are a lot that are planned and are soon to rise. The building up of industries and factories in the city and in the Philippines should be paired with the advancement of air quality modelling. This should be so that air emission can be monitored and air pollution can be prevented. The talk was also interesting for me because Im quite concern of the environment. Again Im not like an avid environmentalist but Im really up to the welfare or betterment of our air environment. I believe really in the principle that everyone is entitled or has the right to breathe clean air. In order for all of us to achieve this we really need to take good care of our environment. I see this field of air quality modelling as a significant tool in preventing air pollution. Through this we will be able to know which places or areas in the Philippines need some mitigation of air emissions of pollutants.