Prather, Kimberly
Environmental, physical/analytical chemistry: gas/particle processes of tropospheric significance; mass spectrometry; laser-based analysis techniques.
Environmental, physical/analytical chemistry: gas/particle processes of tropospheric significance; mass spectrometry; laser-based analysis techniques.
Contact Information
Distinguished Chair in Atmospheric Chemistry
Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Distinguished Professor
Office: MESOM/SIO 361
Phone: 858-822-5312
Email: kprather@ucsd.edu
Web: caice.ucsd.edu
Group: View group members
Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Distinguished Professor
Office: MESOM/SIO 361
Phone: 858-822-5312
Email: kprather@ucsd.edu
Web: caice.ucsd.edu
Group: View group members
Education
1990 Ph.D., University of California, Davis
1985 B.S., University of California, Davis
1990 Ph.D., University of California, Davis
1985 B.S., University of California, Davis
Appointments
1990-92 Postdoc, Physical Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley
1990-92 Postdoc, Physical Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley
Awards and Academic Honors
2019
Member, National Academy of Engineering
2018
Chancellor’s Associates Excellence Award in Research in Science and Engineering
2017
Top 10 Public Defenders (Scientists Protecting People and the Planet), Analytical Scientist
2016
Top 50 Women in the Analytical Sciences, The Analytical Scientist Power List
2015
Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award
2011
ACS San Diego Distinguished Scientist Award
2010
Fellow, American Geophysical Union
2010
Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
2010
Director, NSF Center for Aerosol Impacts on Climate and the Environment
2010
ACS Creative Advances in Environmental Science and Technology
2009
UCSD Faculty Sustainability Award
2009
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
2005
Selected as Member of EPA PM2.5 Clean Air Scientific Advisory Board
2000
ACS Analytical Chemistry Arthur F. Findeis Award
1999
Kenneth T. Whitby Award
1998
GAeF Smoluchowski Award
1997
National Science Foundation Special Creativity Award
1994
University of California, Berkeley; American Society for Mass Spectrometry Award
1994
National Science Foundation Young Investigator
Research Interests
We are working as part of a new Center funded by NSF, the Center for Aerosol Impacts on Climate and the Environment (NSF-CAICE)--see http://caice.ucsd.edu for further details and updates.
Our research involves making measurements of atmospheric aerosol chemistry and developing and using new analytical methods for these measurements. Aerosols occur in the environment in a variety of forms: clouds of ice or water droplets, salt particles from ocean spray, and smoke from a variety of combustion sources. They play an enormous role in our daily lives from affecting visibility and global climate change to endangering our health. Due to applications in research, medicine, and industry, there is great scientific interest in aerosols, however relative to their gas phase counterparts, limited information exists regarding their complex chemistry.
Conventional analytical methods for analyzing aerosols involve isolating particles on filters with subsequent analysis performed in the laboratory. These isolation processes often disturb the aerosol and thus render the data questionable because the particles evaporate or react before analysis. In order to overcome these difficulties, we developed aerosol-time-flight mass spectrometry (ATOFMS). This represented the first analytical technique capable of providing the precise size and chemical composition of individual aerosol particles in real time. Some examples of aerosol systems which we are characterizing in the laboratory using ATOFMS include suspended dust, sea salt, and a variety of combustion particles. Most recently, we developed a much smaller ATOFMS which has been flown over Colorado, northern and southern California, and most recently the Caribbean. In field studies, we strategically position our transportable instruments at sites that allow us to monitor the evolution of single particles in the atmosphere over time. In regional and international studies, these instruments are being used to study the direct effect of aerosols on visibility, pollution levels, cloud formation, and the global radiation balance.
Another major thrust of our research involves the development of new techniques for the analysis of organic species in aerosol particles. This is an extremely complex problem as there are hundreds of organic species in particles yet only 10-20% of the mass has been identified. We are approaching this problem by using tunable laser wavelengths and selective reagent ions in chemical ionization.
Another area of interest involves using an ATOFMS instrument as an on-line probe for monitoring heterogeneous gas-particle reactions in the laboratory. The ATOFMS is interfaced to a flow tube where heterogeneous reactions of tropospheric concern are simulated. Aerosols of known size and composition are created and reacted under controlled conditions. The fundamental question of which factors (i.e. size, composition, charge) influence heterogeneous gas-particle reactions are being addressed.
Controlled laboratory studies such as these assist in sorting out data obtained from atmospheric studies, complicated by the numerous chemical processes occurring at any time. The information obtained will be used to generate new models for atmospheric processes which will be directly applicable in efforts to control ozone depletion, improve air quality, and develop an understanding of the impact of aerosols on global climate.
Our research involves making measurements of atmospheric aerosol chemistry and developing and using new analytical methods for these measurements. Aerosols occur in the environment in a variety of forms: clouds of ice or water droplets, salt particles from ocean spray, and smoke from a variety of combustion sources. They play an enormous role in our daily lives from affecting visibility and global climate change to endangering our health. Due to applications in research, medicine, and industry, there is great scientific interest in aerosols, however relative to their gas phase counterparts, limited information exists regarding their complex chemistry.
Conventional analytical methods for analyzing aerosols involve isolating particles on filters with subsequent analysis performed in the laboratory. These isolation processes often disturb the aerosol and thus render the data questionable because the particles evaporate or react before analysis. In order to overcome these difficulties, we developed aerosol-time-flight mass spectrometry (ATOFMS). This represented the first analytical technique capable of providing the precise size and chemical composition of individual aerosol particles in real time. Some examples of aerosol systems which we are characterizing in the laboratory using ATOFMS include suspended dust, sea salt, and a variety of combustion particles. Most recently, we developed a much smaller ATOFMS which has been flown over Colorado, northern and southern California, and most recently the Caribbean. In field studies, we strategically position our transportable instruments at sites that allow us to monitor the evolution of single particles in the atmosphere over time. In regional and international studies, these instruments are being used to study the direct effect of aerosols on visibility, pollution levels, cloud formation, and the global radiation balance.
Another major thrust of our research involves the development of new techniques for the analysis of organic species in aerosol particles. This is an extremely complex problem as there are hundreds of organic species in particles yet only 10-20% of the mass has been identified. We are approaching this problem by using tunable laser wavelengths and selective reagent ions in chemical ionization.
Another area of interest involves using an ATOFMS instrument as an on-line probe for monitoring heterogeneous gas-particle reactions in the laboratory. The ATOFMS is interfaced to a flow tube where heterogeneous reactions of tropospheric concern are simulated. Aerosols of known size and composition are created and reacted under controlled conditions. The fundamental question of which factors (i.e. size, composition, charge) influence heterogeneous gas-particle reactions are being addressed.
Controlled laboratory studies such as these assist in sorting out data obtained from atmospheric studies, complicated by the numerous chemical processes occurring at any time. The information obtained will be used to generate new models for atmospheric processes which will be directly applicable in efforts to control ozone depletion, improve air quality, and develop an understanding of the impact of aerosols on global climate.
Primary Research Area
Physical/Analytical Chemistry
Physical/Analytical Chemistry
Interdisciplinary interests
Atmospheric and Environmental
Materials
Materials
Outreach Activities
I have been heavily involved in promoting diversity and increasing participation by under-represented groups both within UCSD, as well as outside of the University. My group is typically comprised of 60-70% female PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. I spend a significant amount of time mentoring my entire group on career and life choices, how to negotiate and manage a research team, as well as how to acquire the skills needed to conduct research at the highest possible level. We also have established a research partnership with the University of Puerto Rico (UPR). Members of my research group and I have visited there, given lectures, and performed research investigating the impact of African dust transport into the Caribbean region. As part of our NSF Center, CAICE, students from UPR will have the opportunity to come and participate in ocean-atmosphere studies at the ocean-atmosphere facility at Scripps. We also accept students from UCSD academic enrichment programs that focus on broadening participation including the CAMP and McNair programs. As part of CAICE Phase II, we proposed to begin working more closely with local community colleges, introducing them to UCSD research opportunities as well as mentoring the transfer students when they arrive. The local community colleges have an extremely high percentage of under-represented groups, and thus we can increase their participation in scientific research by providing opportunities for the students to do summer research at UCSD.
Image Gallery
Picture of aircraft-ATOFMS (Shirley)
Schematic of ATOFMS which can collect information on aerosol size, chemistry, and optical properties.
Picture of aircraft-ATOFMS (Shirley)
Schematic of ATOFMS which can collect information on aerosol size, chemistry, and optical properties.
Selected Publications
- Michaud JM,Thompson LR,Kaul D,Espinoza JL,Richter RA,Xu ZZ,Lee C,Pham KM,Beall CM,Malfatti F,Azam F,Knight R,Burkart MD,Dupont CL,Prather KA "Taxon-specific aerosolization of bacteria and viruses in an experimental ocean-atmosphere mesocosm.", Nat Commun, 2018, Vol. 9, Issue 1, 2017 [View]
- Wang X,Deane GB,Moore KA,Ryder OS,Stokes MD,Beall CM,Collins DB,Santander MV,Burrows SM,Sultana CM,Prather KA "The role of jet and film drops in controlling the mixing state of submicron sea spray aerosol particles.", Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2017, Vol. 114, Issue 27, 6978-6983 [View]
- Prather KA,Bertram TH,Grassian VH,Deane GB,Stokes MD,Demott PJ,Aluwihare LI,Palenik BP,Azam F,Seinfeld JH,Moffet RC,Molina MJ,Cappa CD,Geiger FM,Roberts GC,Russell LM,Ault AP,Baltrusaitis J,Collins DB,Corrigan CE,Cuadra-Rodriguez LA,Ebben CJ,Forestieri SD,Guasco TL,Hersey SP,Kim MJ,Lambert WF,Modini RL,Mui W,Pedler BE,Ruppel MJ,Ryder OS,Schoepp NG,Sullivan RC,Zhao D "Bringing the ocean into the laboratory to probe the chemical complexity of sea spray aerosol.", Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2013, Vol. 110, Issue 19, 7550-5 [View]
- Sullivan, R.C., S.A. Guazzotti, D.A. Sodeman, and K.A. Prather, Direct observations of the atmospheric processing of Asian mineral dust. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, (2007). 7: p. 1213-1236.
- Pratt, K.A., P.J. DeMott, J.R. French, Z. Wang, D.L. Westphal, A.J. Heymsfield, C.H. Twohy, A.J. Prenni, and K.A. Prather, In situ detection of biological particles in cloud ice-crystals. Nature Geoscience, (2009). 2(6): p. 398-401.