Our vision is to bring together QUT’s fundamental and applied (observational) mass spectrometry expertise to advance our understanding of the chemical composition of the atmosphere, how it changes in space and time, how it is influenced by natural processes and human activities, and ultimately how it impacts climate and human health.
Atmospheric aerosols and trace gases are critical components of Earth’s climate system and important drivers of human-induced climate change, with profound negative impacts on human health. Understanding their chemical composition is essential to assess their climate and health effects. While research into aerosol and trace gas chemistry has a long history, the past two decades have seen transformative advancements thanks to innovations in real-time mass spectrometry, particularly instruments adapted for fieldwork. These tools enable detailed, real-time analysis of atmospheric processes, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods that relied on sample collection and laboratory processing. These analytical advances have deepened our understanding of aerosol chemical aging, secondary aerosol and ozone formation, and the contributions of various emission sources to pollution in both urban and rural areas, among other factors.
Advanced mass spectrometry techniques serve a pivotal role in our research, allowing us to characterise compounds in both the gas and particle phase. We apply these techniques in controlled laboratory-based experiments and extensive fieldwork throughout Australia and its surrounding oceans.