Dr. Renyi Zhang
| Title | Professor |
| Research Interests | Kinetics and mechanisms of gas-phase and heterogeneous reactions. Laboratory studies of chemical and physical properties of atmospheric aerosols. Modeling of air pollution. Atmospheric measurements of trace gas species and aerosols. Assessment of aerosol-cloud interaction. Lightning chemistry. |
| Education | Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Office Location | Room 1108A, O&M Bldg |
| Office Phone | 979-845-7656 |
| Fax | 979-862-4466 |
| Zhang@ariel.met.tamu.edu | |
| Mailing Address | Department of Atmospheric Sciences Texas A&M University 3150 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3150 |
Research Interests
Our research program focuses primarily on three areas:
(i) Photochemical oxidation of hydrocarbons has major implications for local and regional air quality. We employ state-of-the-art laboratory instrumentation to investigate the hydrocarbon oxidation reactions initiated by OH and other radical species, including ion drift - chemical ionization mass spectrometry (ID-CIMS) and in situ Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Our study focuses on the formation of intermediate radicals arising from the hydrocarbon reactions and their subsequent degradation reactions. In addition, quantum chemical and rate calculations are performed to study the structures and energetics of the organic radicals, using the Texas A&M Supercomputer Facilities. Our objectives are to quantitatively understand the photochemical oxidation mechanisms of atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their role in tropospheric ozone formation.
(ii) Air pollutants emitted from anthropogenic and natural sources are transported in the atmosphere while undergoing chemical transformation, affecting human health, agricultural activity, and the global climate. An understanding of the chemistry and transport of air pollutants is critical for devising strategies to improve urban, rural, and regional air quality. We are developing a mesoscale chemical transport model (CTM) to survey the air quality on the urban and regional scales. The CTM employs the output wind fields from a mesoscale meteorological model (MM5). The chemical boundary conditions for the CTM are derived from a NCAR global model MOZART (Model of OZone And Related chemical Tracers).
(iii) The formation of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by lightning is investigated. Experiments are conducted to quantify NOx production from laboratory-induced electrical discharges. In addition, we analyze satellite lightning and NOx data to obtain the global and seasonal lightning distributions and NOx production by lightning. Our results are incorporated into the NCAR MOZART model to assess the impact of NOx production by lightning on the chemistry of the regional and global atmosphere.
Selected Publications
Zhang, R., I. Suh, J. Zhao, D. Zhang, E.C. Fortner, X. Tie, L.T. Molina, and M.J. Molina, Atmospheric new particle formation enhanced by organic acids, Science 304, 1487-1490 (2004).
Zhang, R., W. Lei, X. Tie, P. Hess, Industrial emissions cause extreme diurnal urban ozone variability, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101, 6346-6350 (2004).
Zhao, J., R. Zhang, E.C. Fortner, and S.W. North, Quantification of hydroxycarbonyls from OH-isoprene reactions, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 126, 2686-2687 (2004).
Fortner, E. C., J. Zhao, and R. Zhang, Development of ion drift-chemical ionization mass spectrometry, Anal. Chem. 76, 5436-5440 (2004).
Lei, W., R. Zhang, X. Tie, and P. Hess, Chemical characterization of ozone formation in the Houston-Galveston area, J. Geophys. Res. 109, D12301, doi:10.1029/2003JD004219 (2004).
Zhao, J., and R. Zhang, Proton transfer reaction rate constants between hydronium ion (H3O+) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Atmos. Environ. 38, 2177-2185 (2004).
Zhang, D., R. Zhang, and S.W. North, Experimental study of NO reaction with hydroxyalkyl peroxy radicals from OH-initiated reaction of isoprene, J. Phys. Chem. 107, 11013-11019 (2003).
Molina, M.J., R. Zhang, P.J. Wooldridge, J.E. Kim, J.R. McMahon, H.Y. Chang, and K.D. Beyer, Physical Chemistry of the H2SO4/HNO3/H2O System: Implications for the Formation of Polar Stratospheric Clouds, Science, 261, 1418-1423 (1993).
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