scholarly journals Biogenic VOC oxidation and organic aerosol formation in an urban nocturnal boundary layer: aircraft vertical profiles in Houston, TX

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 11317-11337 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. S. Brown ◽  
W. P. Dubé ◽  
R. Bahreini ◽  
A. M. Middlebrook ◽  
C. A. Brock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Nitrogen Oxides ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Nocturnal Boundary Layer ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Biogenic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Aerosol Composition

Abstract. Organic compounds are a large component of aerosol mass, but organic aerosol (OA) sources remain poorly characterized. Recent model studies have suggested nighttime oxidation of biogenic hydrocarbons as a potentially large OA source, but analysis of field measurements to test these predictions is sparse. We present nighttime vertical profiles of nitrogen oxides, ozone, VOCs and aerosol composition measured during low approaches of the NOAA P-3 aircraft to airfields in Houston, TX. This region has large emissions of both biogenic hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. The latter category serves as a source of the nitrate radical, NO3, a key nighttime oxidant. Biogenic VOCs (BVOC) and urban pollutants were concentrated within the nocturnal boundary layer (NBL), which varied in depth from 100–400 m. Despite concentrated NOx at low altitude, ozone was never titrated to zero, resulting in rapid NO3 radical production rates of 0.2–2.7 ppbv h−1 within the NBL. Monoterpenes and isoprene were frequently present within the NBL and underwent rapid oxidation (up to 1 ppbv h−1), mainly by NO3 and to a lesser extent O3. Concurrent enhancement in organic and nitrate aerosol on several profiles was consistent with primary emissions and with secondary production from nighttime BVOC oxidation, with the latter equivalent to or slightly larger than the former. Some profiles may have been influenced by biomass burning sources as well, making quantitative attribution of organic aerosol sources difficult. Ratios of organic aerosol to CO within the NBL ranged from 14 to 38 μg m−3 OA/ppmv CO. A box model simulation incorporating monoterpene emissions, oxidant formation rates and monoterpene SOA yields suggested overnight OA production of 0.5 to 9 μg m−3.

scholarly journals Biogenic VOC oxidation and organic aerosol formation in an urban nocturnal boundary layer: aircraft vertical profiles in Houston, TX

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 11863-11918
Author(s):  
S. S. Brown ◽  
W. P. Dubé ◽  
R. Bahreini ◽  
A. M. Middlebrook ◽  
C. A. Brock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Nitrogen Oxides ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Nocturnal Boundary Layer ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Biogenic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Aerosol Composition

Abstract. Organic compounds are a large component of aerosol mass, but organic aerosol (OA) sources remain poorly characterized. Recent model studies have suggested nighttime oxidation of biogenic hydrocarbons as a potentially large OA source, but analysis of field measurements to test these predictions is sparse. We present nighttime vertical profiles of nitrogen oxides, ozone, VOCs and aerosol composition measured during low approaches of the NOAA P-3 aircraft to airfields in Houston, TX. This region has large emissions of both biogenic hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. The latter serves as a source of the nitrate radical, NO3, a key nighttime oxidant. Biogenic VOCs (BVOC) and urban pollutants were concentrated within the nocturnal boundary layer (NBL), which varied in depth from 100–400 m. Despite concentrated NOx at low altitude, ozone was never titrated to zero, resulting in rapid NO3 radical production rates of 0.2–2.7ppbv h-1 within the NBL. Monoterpenes and isoprene were frequently present within the NBL and underwent rapid oxidation (up to 1ppbv h−1), mainly by NO3 and to a lesser extent O3. Concurrent enhancement in organic and nitrate aerosol on several profiles was consistent with primary emissions and with secondary production from nighttime BVOC oxidation, with the latter equivalent to or slightly larger than the former. Ratios of organic aerosol to CO within the NBL ranged from 14 to 38 μg m−3 OA/ppmv CO. A box model simulation incorporating monoterpene emissions, oxidant formation rates and monoterpene SOA yields suggested overnight OA production of 0.5 to 9 μg m−3.

scholarly journals Modeling organic aerosols in a megacity: comparison of simple and complex representations of the volatility basis set approach

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 30205-30277 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Shrivastava ◽  
J. Fast ◽  
R. Easter ◽  
W. I. Gustafson ◽  
R. A. Zaveri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Organic Aerosols ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Basis Set ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation ◽  
The City

Abstract. The Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with chemistry (WRF-Chem) is modified to include a volatility basis set (VBS) treatment of secondary organic aerosol formation. The VBS approach, coupled with SAPRC-99 gas-phase chemistry mechanism, is used to model gas-particle partitioning and multiple generations of gas-phase oxidation of organic vapors. In addition to the detailed 9-species VBS, a simplified mechanism using 2 volatility species (2-species VBS) is developed and tested for similarity to the 9-species VBS in terms of both mass and oxygen-to-carbon ratios of organic aerosols in the atmosphere. WRF-Chem results are evaluated against field measurements of organic aerosols collected during the MILAGRO 2006 campaign in the vicinity of Mexico City. The simplified 2-species mechanism reduces the computational cost by a factor of 2 as compared to 9-species VBS. Both ground site and aircraft measurements suggest that the 9-species and 2-species VBS predictions of total organic aerosol mass as well as individual organic aerosol components including primary, secondary, and biomass burning are comparable in magnitude. In addition, oxygen-to-carbon ratio predictions from both approaches agree within 25%, providing evidence that the 2-species VBS is well suited to represent the complex evolution of organic aerosols. Model sensitivity to amount of anthropogenic semi-volatile and intermediate volatility (S/IVOC) precursor emissions is also examined by doubling the default emissions. Both the emission cases significantly under-predict primary organic aerosols in the city center and along aircraft flight transects. Secondary organic aerosols are predicted reasonably well along flight tracks surrounding the city, but are consistently over-predicted downwind of the city. Also, oxygen-to-carbon ratio predictions are significantly improved compared to prior studies by adding 15% oxygen mass per generation of oxidation; however, all modeling cases still under-predict these ratios downwind as compared to measurements, suggesting a need to further improve chemistry parameterizations of secondary organic aerosol formation.

scholarly journals The influences of ammonia on aerosol formation in the ozonolysis of styrene: roles of Criegee intermediate reactions

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 172171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiao Ma ◽  
Xiaoxiao Lin ◽  
Chengqiang Yang ◽  
Bo Long ◽  
Yanbo Gai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Quantum Chemical Calculations ◽  
Quantum Chemical ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Gas Phase Reactions ◽  
Aerosol Composition ◽  
Theoretical Methods ◽  
Criegee Intermediates ◽  
Secondary Ozonide

The influences of ammonia (NH 3 ) on secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from ozonolysis of styrene have been investigated using chamber experiments and quantum chemical calculations. With the value of [O 3 ] 0 /[styrene] 0 ratios between 2 and 4, chamber experiments were carried out without NH 3 or under different [NH 3 ]/[styrene] 0 ratios. The chamber experiments reveal that the addition of NH 3 led to significant decrease of SOA yield. The overall SOA yield decreased with the [NH 3 ] 0 /[styrene] 0 increasing. In addition, the addition of NH 3 at the beginning of the reaction or several hours after the reaction occurs had obviously different influence on the yield of SOA. Gas phase reactions of Criegee intermediates (CIs) with aldehydes and NH 3 were studied in detail by theoretical methods to probe into the mechanisms behind these phenomena. The calculated results showed that 3,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-trioxolane, a secondary ozonide formed through the reactions of C 6 H 5 ĊHOO· with C 6 H 5 CHO, could make important contribution to the aerosol composition. The addition of excess NH 3 may compete with aldehydes, decreasing the secondary ozonide yield to some extent and thus affect the SOA formation.

scholarly journals Fine particle pH and sensitivity to NH<sub>3</sub> and HNO<sub>3</sub> over summertime South Korea during KORUS-AQ

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ifayoyinsola Ibikunle ◽  
Andreas Beyersdorf ◽  
Pedro Campuzano-Jost ◽  
Chelsea Corr ◽  
John D. Crounse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Deposition Velocity ◽  
Liquid Water Content ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Aerosol Composition ◽  
New Approach ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Inorganic Nitrate ◽  
Nitrate Availability ◽  
Trace Species

Abstract. Using a new approach that constrains thermodynamic modeling of aerosol composition with measured gas-to-particle partitioning of inorganic nitrate, we estimate the acidity levels for aerosol sampled in the South Korean planetary boundary layer during the NASA/NIER KORUS-AQ field campaign. The pH (mean ± 1σ = 2.43 ± 0.68) and aerosol liquid water content determined were then used to determine the chemical regime of the inorganic fraction of particulate matter (PM) sensitivity to ammonia and nitrate availability. We found that the aerosol formation is always sensitive to HNO3 levels, especially in highly polluted regions, while it is only exclusively sensitive to NH3 in some rural/remote regions. Nitrate levels are further promoted because dry deposition velocity is low and allows its accumulation in the boundary layer. Because of this, HNO3 reductions achieved by NOx controls prove to be the most effective approach for all conditions examined, and that NH3 emissions can only partially affect PM reduction for the specific season and region. Despite the benefits of controlling PM formation to reduce ammonium-nitrate aerosol and PM mass, changes in the acidity domain can significantly affect other processes and sources of aerosol toxicity (such as e.g., solubilization of Fe, Cu and other metals) as well as the deposition patterns of these trace species and reactive nitrate.

scholarly journals Modeling organic aerosols in a megacity: comparison of simple and complex representations of the volatility basis set approach

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 6639-6662 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Shrivastava ◽  
J. Fast ◽  
R. Easter ◽  
W. I. Gustafson ◽  
R. A. Zaveri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Organic Aerosols ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Basis Set ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation ◽  
The City

Abstract. The Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with chemistry (WRF-Chem) is modified to include a volatility basis set (VBS) treatment of secondary organic aerosol formation. The VBS approach, coupled with SAPRC-99 gas-phase chemistry mechanism, is used to model gas-particle partitioning and multiple generations of gas-phase oxidation of organic vapors. In addition to the detailed 9-species VBS, a simplified mechanism using 2 volatility species (2-species VBS) is developed and tested for similarity to the 9-species VBS in terms of both mass and oxygen-to-carbon ratios of organic aerosols in the atmosphere. WRF-Chem results are evaluated against field measurements of organic aerosols collected during the MILAGRO 2006 campaign in the vicinity of Mexico City. The simplified 2-species mechanism reduces the computational cost by a factor of 2 as compared to 9-species VBS. Both ground site and aircraft measurements suggest that the 9-species and 2-species VBS predictions of total organic aerosol mass as well as individual organic aerosol components including primary, secondary, and biomass burning are comparable in magnitude. In addition, oxygen-to-carbon ratio predictions from both approaches agree within 25 %, providing evidence that the 2-species VBS is well suited to represent the complex evolution of organic aerosols. Model sensitivity to amount of anthropogenic semi-volatile and intermediate volatility (S/IVOC) precursor emissions is also examined by doubling the default emissions. Both the emission cases significantly under-predict primary organic aerosols in the city center and along aircraft flight transects. Secondary organic aerosols are predicted reasonably well along flight tracks surrounding the city, but are consistently over-predicted downwind of the city. Also, oxygen-to-carbon ratio predictions are significantly improved compared to prior studies by adding 15 % oxygen mass per generation of oxidation; however, all modeling cases still under-predict these ratios downwind as compared to measurements, suggesting a need to further improve chemistry parameterizations of secondary organic aerosol formation.

scholarly journals Vertical profiles of O<sub>3</sub> and NO<sub>x</sub> chemistry in the polluted nocturnal boundary layer in Phoenix, AZ: I. Field observations by long-path DOAS

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 2671-2693 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Wang ◽  
R. Ackermann ◽  
J. Stutz
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
Vertical Mixing ◽  
Nocturnal Boundary Layer ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Chemical Production ◽  
Reactive Trace Gases ◽  
Vertical Gradients

Abstract. Nocturnal chemistry in the atmospheric boundary layer plays a key role in determining the initial chemical conditions for photochemistry during the following morning as well as influencing the budgets of O3 and NO2. Despite its importance, chemistry in the nocturnal boundary layer (NBL), especially in heavily polluted urban areas, has received little attention so far, which greatly limits the current understanding of the processes involved. In particular, the influence of vertical mixing on chemical processes gives rise to complex vertical profiles of various reactive trace gases and makes nocturnal chemistry altitude-dependent. The processing of pollutants is thus driven by a complicated, and not well quantified, interplay between chemistry and vertical mixing. In order to gain a better understanding of the altitude-dependent nocturnal chemistry in the polluted urban environment, a field study was carried out in the downtown area of Phoenix, AZ, in summer 2001. Vertical profiles of reactive species, such as O3, NO2, and NO3, were observed in the lowest 140 m of the troposphere throughout the night. The disappearance of these trace gas vertical gradients during the morning coincided with the morning transition from a stable NBL to a well-mixed convective layer. The vertical gradients of trace gas levels were found to be dependent on both surface NOx emission strength and the vertical stability of the NBL. The vertical gradients of Ox, the sum of O3 and NO2, were found to be much smaller than those of O3 and NO2, revealing the dominant role of NO emissions followed by the O3+NO reaction for the altitude-dependence of nocturnal chemistry in urban areas. Dry deposition, direct emissions, and other chemical production pathways of NO2 also play a role for the Ox distribution. Strong positive vertical gradients of NO3, that are predominantly determined by NO3 loss near the ground, were observed. The vertical profiles of NO3 and the calculated vertical profiles of its reservoir species (N2O5) confirm earlier model results suggesting complex vertical distributions of atmospheric denoxification processes during the night.

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