scholarly journals The Synergistic Role of Sulfuric Acid, Bases, and Oxidized Organics Governing New‐Particle Formation in Beijing

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Yan ◽  
Rujing Yin ◽  
Yiqun Lu ◽  
Lubna Dada ◽  
Dongsen Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation

scholarly journals Evaluation on the role of sulfuric acid in the mechanisms of new particle formation for Beijing case

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 24165-24189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. B. Wang ◽  
M. Hu ◽  
D. L. Yue ◽  
J. Zheng ◽  
R. Y. Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Urban Atmosphere ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
H2so4 Concentration ◽  
Nucleation Mechanisms ◽  
Better Than

Abstract. New particle formation (NPF) is considered as an important mechanism for gas-to-particle transformation, and gaseous sulfuric acid is believed as a curcial precursor. Up to now few field-based studies on nucleation mechanisms and the role of sulfuric acid were conducted in China. In this study, simultaneously measurements of particle number size distributions and gaseous sulfuric acid concentrations were performed from July to September in 2008. Totally, 22 new particle formation events were observed during the entire 85 campaign days. The results show that the condensation sink of pre-existing particles is one of the limiting factors to determine the occurrence of nucleation events in Beijing. The concentrations of gaseous sulfuric acid show good correlations with freshly nucleated particles (N3–6) and formation rates (J3 and J1.5). The power-law relationship between H2SO4 concentration and N3–6 or J was adopted to explore the nucleation mechanism. The exponents range from 1 to 5. More than half of the NPF events exhibit an exponent larger than 2.5. For these cases, the thermodynamic process works better than the activation or kinetic nucleation theories to explain the nucleation events in urban atmosphere of Beijing.

scholarly journals The roles of sulfuric acid in new particle formation and growth in the mega-city of Beijing

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 4953-4960 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Yue ◽  
M. Hu ◽  
R. Y. Zhang ◽  
Z. B. Wang ◽  
J. Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Average Formation ◽  
Subsequent Neutralization

Abstract. Simultaneous measurements of gaseous sulfuric acid and particle number size distributions were performed to investigate aerosol nucleation and growth during CAREBeijing-2008. The analysis of the measured aerosols and sulfuric acid with an aerosol dynamic model shows the dominant role of sulfuric acid in new particle formation (NPF) process but also in the subsequent growth in Beijing. Based on the data of twelve NPF events, the average formation rates (2–13 cm−3 s−1) show a linear correlation with the sulfuric acid concentrations (R2=0.85). Coagulation seems to play a significant role in reducing the number concentration of nucleation mode particles with the ratio of the coagulation loss to formation rate being 0.41±0.16. The apparent growth rates vary from 3 to 11 nm h−1. Condensation of sulfuric acid and its subsequent neutralization by ammonia and coagulation contribute to the apparent particle growth on average 45±18% and 34±17%, respectively. The 30% higher concentration of sulfate than organic compounds in particles during the seven sulfur-rich NPF events but 20% lower concentration of sulfate during the five sulfur-poor type suggest that organic compounds are an important contributor to the growth of the freshly nucleated particles, especially during the sulfur-poor cases.

scholarly journals Evaluation on the role of sulfuric acid in the mechanisms of new particle formation for Beijing case

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 12663-12671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. B. Wang ◽  
M. Hu ◽  
D. L. Yue ◽  
J. Zheng ◽  
R. Y. Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Urban Atmosphere ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
H2so4 Concentration ◽  
Nucleation Mechanisms ◽  
Source And Sink ◽  
Better Than

Abstract. New particle formation (NPF) is considered as an important mechanism for gas-to-particle transformation, and gaseous sulfuric acid is believed as a crucial precursor. Up to now few field-based studies on nucleation mechanisms and the role of sulfuric acid were conducted in China. In this study, simultaneously measurements of particle number size distributions and gaseous sulfuric acid concentrations were performed from July to September in 2008. Totally, 22 new particle formation events were observed during the entire 85 campaign days. The results show that in the case of both higher source and sink values, the result of the competition between source and sink is more likely the key limiting factor to determine the observation of NPF events in Beijing. The concentrations of gaseous sulfuric acid show good correlations with freshly nucleated particles (N3-6 and formation rates (J3 and J1.5. The power-law relationship between H2SO4 concentration and N3-6 or J is adopted to explore the nucleation mechanism. The exponents are showed a great range (from 1 to 7). More than half of the NPF events exhibit an exponent larger than 2.5. For these cases, the thermodynamic process works better than the activation or kinetic nucleation theories to explain the nucleation events in urban atmosphere of Beijing.

scholarly journals The roles of sulfuric acid in new particle formation and growth in the mega-city of Beijing

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 2711-2729 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Yue ◽  
M. Hu ◽  
R. Y. Zhang ◽  
Z. B. Wang ◽  
J. Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Average Formation ◽  
Subsequent Neutralization

Abstract. Simultaneous measurements of gaseous sulfuric acid and particle number size distributions were performed to investigate aerosol nucleation and growth during CAREBeijing-2008. The analysis of the measured aerosols and sulfuric acid with an aerosol dynamic model shows the dominant role of sulfuric acid in new particle formation (NPF) process but also in the subsequent growth in Beijing. Based on the data of twelve NPF events, the average formation rates (2–13 cm−3 s−1) show a linear correlation with the sulfuric acid concentrations (R2=0.85). Coagulation seems to play a significant role in reducing the number concentration of nucleation mode particles with the ratio of the coagulation loss to formation rate being 0.41±0.16. The apparent growth rates vary from 3 to 11 nm h−1. Condensation of sulfuric acid and its subsequent neutralization by ammonia and coagulation contribute to the apparent particle growth on average 45±18% and 34±17%, respectively. The 30% higher concentration of sulfate than organic compounds in particles during the seven sulfur-rich NPF events but 20% lower concentration of sulfate during the five sulfur-poor type suggest that organic compounds are an important contributor to the growth of the freshly nucleated particles, especially during the sulfur-poor cases.

The role of nitric acid in atmospheric new particle formation

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (25) ◽  
pp. 17406-17414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling Liu ◽  
Hao Li ◽  
Haijie Zhang ◽  
Jie Zhong ◽  
Yang Bai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Nitric Acid ◽  
Formation Mechanism ◽  
Cluster Formation ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation

The cluster formation mechanism indicates that nitric acid can connect the smaller and larger clusters, enhancing sulfuric acid–ammonia cluster formation rates.

scholarly journals Open ocean and coastal new particle formation from sulfuric acid and amines around the Antarctic Peninsula

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Brean ◽  
Manuel Dall’Osto ◽  
Rafel Simó ◽  
Zongbo Shi ◽  
David C. S. Beddows ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Open Ocean ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
The Antarctic

scholarly journals Modelling studies of HOMs and their contributions to new particle formation and growth: comparison of boreal forest in Finland and a polluted environment in China

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 11779-11791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ximeng Qi ◽  
Aijun Ding ◽  
Pontus Roldin ◽  
Zhengning Xu ◽  
Putian Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Polluted Environment ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Multifunctional Compounds

Abstract. Highly oxygenated multifunctional compounds (HOMs) play a key role in new particle formation (NPF), but their quantitative roles in different environments of the globe have not been well studied yet. Frequent NPF events were observed at two “flagship” stations under different environmental conditions, i.e. a remote boreal forest site (SMEAR II) in Finland and a suburban site (SORPES) in polluted eastern China. The averaged formation rate of 6 nm particles and the growth rate of 6–30 nm particles were 0.3 cm−3 s−1 and 4.5 nm h−1 at SMEAR II compared to 2.3 cm−3 s−1 and 8.7 nm h−1 at SORPES, respectively. To explore the differences of NPF at the two stations, the HOM concentrations and NPF events at two sites were simulated with the MALTE-BOX model, and their roles in NPF and particle growth in the two distinctly different environments are discussed. The model provides an acceptable agreement between the simulated and measured concentrations of sulfuric acid and HOMs at SMEAR II. The sulfuric acid and HOM organonitrate concentrations are significantly higher but other HOM monomers and dimers from monoterpene oxidation are lower at SORPES compared to SMEAR II. The model simulates the NPF events at SMEAR II with a good agreement but underestimates the growth of new particles at SORPES, indicating a dominant role of anthropogenic processes in the polluted environment. HOMs from monoterpene oxidation dominate the growth of ultrafine particles at SMEAR II while sulfuric acid and HOMs from aromatics oxidation play a more important role in particle growth. This study highlights the distinct roles of sulfuric acid and HOMs in NPF and particle growth in different environmental conditions and suggests the need for molecular-scale measurements in improving the understanding of NPF mechanisms in polluted areas like eastern China.

scholarly journals Hygroscopic properties of ultrafine aerosol particles in the boreal forest: diurnal variation, solubility and the influence of sulfuric acid

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ehn ◽  
T. Petäjä ◽  
H. Aufmhoff ◽  
P. Aalto ◽  
K. Hämeri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Diurnal Variation ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Hygroscopic Growth ◽  
Hygroscopic Properties

Abstract. The hygroscopic growth of aerosol particles present in a boreal forest was measured at a relative humidity of 88%. Simultaneously the gas phase concentration of sulfuric acid, a very hygroscopic compound, was monitored. The focus was mainly on days with new particle formation by nucleation. The measured hygroscopic growth factors (GF) correlated positively with the gaseous phase sulfuric acid concentrations. The smaller the particles, the stronger the correlation, with r=0.20 for 50 nm and r=0.50 for 10 nm particles. The increase in GF due to condensing sulfuric acid is expected to be larger for particles with initially smaller masses. During new particle formation, the changes in solubility of the new particles were calculated during their growth to Aitken mode sizes. As the modal diameter increased, the solubility of the particles decreased. This indicated that the initial particle growth was due to more hygroscopic compounds, whereas the later growth during the evening and night was mainly caused by less hygroscopic or even hydrophobic compounds. For all the measured sizes, a diurnal variation in GF was observed both during days with and without particle formation. The GF was lowest at around midnight, with a mean value of 1.12–1.24 depending on particle size and if new particle formation occurred during the day, and increased to 1.25–1.34 around noon. This can be tentatively explained by day- and nighttime gas-phase chemistry; different vapors will be present depending on the time of day, and through condensation these compounds will alter the hygroscopic properties of the particles in different ways.

scholarly journals Atmospheric new particle formation at the research station Melpitz, Germany: connection with gaseous precursors and meteorological parameters

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1835-1861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Größ ◽  
Amar Hamed ◽  
André Sonntag ◽  
Gerald Spindler ◽  
Hanna Elina Manninen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Meteorological Parameters ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Number Concentration ◽  
Independent Effect ◽  
Research Station ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Automated Method

Abstract. This paper revisits the atmospheric new particle formation (NPF) process in the polluted Central European troposphere, focusing on the connection with gas-phase precursors and meteorological parameters. Observations were made at the research station Melpitz (former East Germany) between 2008 and 2011 involving a neutral cluster and air ion spectrometer (NAIS). Particle formation events were classified by a new automated method based on the convolution integral of particle number concentration in the diameter interval 2–20 nm. To study the relevance of gaseous sulfuric acid as a precursor for nucleation, a proxy was derived on the basis of direct measurements during a 1-month campaign in May 2008. As a major result, the number concentration of freshly produced particles correlated significantly with the concentration of sulfur dioxide as the main precursor of sulfuric acid. The condensation sink, a factor potentially inhibiting NPF events, played a subordinate role only. The same held for experimentally determined ammonia concentrations. The analysis of meteorological parameters confirmed the absolute need for solar radiation to induce NPF events and demonstrated the presence of significant turbulence during those events. Due to its tight correlation with solar radiation, however, an independent effect of turbulence for NPF could not be established. Based on the diurnal evolution of aerosol, gas-phase, and meteorological parameters near the ground, we further conclude that the particle formation process is likely to start in elevated parts of the boundary layer rather than near ground level.

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