Andreas Zuend Research Group

The Andreas Zuend Research Group focuses on developing numerical models and system analysis tools to enhance predictions of water and semivolatile organic species partitioning between particles and the surrounding air. This involves studying atmospheric chemistry, mixing effects within liquid, semi-solid, and solid particle phases, and applying thermodynamic equilibrium computations and kinetic models. A primary goal is to improve the understanding of aerosol formation and transformations through the development of complex numerical models, laboratory experiments, and local, regional, and global observations.

A key motivation for the group is to translate process-level knowledge of gas-aerosol chemistry and thermodynamics into computationally efficient descriptions for atmospheric large-scale (3-D) models. These models are vital for forecasting air quality and evaluating climate change scenarios, supporting long-term political decision-making and environmental regulations. The group's work aims to improve aerosol modules in these large-scale models to bridge the gap between observed particulate matter characteristics and predictions from 3-D chemical-transport simulations. The development and validation of these detailed physicochemical models are critically dependent on well-characterized measurements from laboratory experiments. The group actively collaborates with international research partners to interpret measurement results, refine experimental techniques, and identify needs for model improvements and data requirements.