scholarly journals Nitrous acid formation in a snow-free wintertime polluted rural area

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1977-1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catalina Tsai ◽  
Max Spolaor ◽  
Santo Fedele Colosimo ◽  
Olga Pikelnaya ◽  
Ross Cheung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Nitrous Acid ◽  
Surface Flux ◽  
Surface Fluxes ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
Chemical Mechanism ◽  
Formation Mechanisms ◽  
Diffusivity Coefficient ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Mixing Ratios

Abstract. Nitrous acid (HONO) photolysis is an important source of hydroxyl radicals (OH) in the lower atmosphere, in particular in winter when other OH sources are less efficient. The nighttime formation of HONO and its photolysis in the early morning have long been recognized as an important contributor to the OH budget in polluted environments. Over the past few decades it has become clear that the formation of HONO during the day is an even larger contributor to the OH budget and additionally provides a pathway to recycle NOx. Despite the recognition of this unidentified HONO daytime source, the precise chemical mechanism remains elusive. A number of mechanisms have been proposed, including gas-phase, aerosol, and ground surface processes, to explain the elevated levels of daytime HONO. To identify the likely HONO formation mechanisms in a wintertime polluted rural environment we present LP-DOAS observations of HONO, NO2, and O3 on three absorption paths that cover altitude intervals from 2 to 31, 45, and 68 m above ground level (a.g.l.) during the UBWOS 2012 experiment in the Uintah Basin, Utah, USA. Daytime HONO mixing ratios in the 2–31 m height interval were, on average, 78 ppt, which is lower than HONO levels measured in most polluted urban environments with similar NO2 mixing ratios of 1–2 ppb. HONO surface fluxes at 19 m a.g.l., calculated using the HONO gradients from the LP-DOAS and measured eddy diffusivity coefficient, show clear upward fluxes. The hourly average vertical HONO flux during sunny days followed solar irradiance, with a maximum of (4.9 ± 0.2)  ×  1010 molec. cm−2 s−1 at noontime. A photostationary state analysis of the HONO budget shows that the surface flux closes the HONO budget, accounting for 63 ± 32 % of the unidentified HONO daytime source throughout the day and 90 ± 30 % near noontime. This is also supported by 1-D chemistry and transport model calculations that include the measured surface flux, thus clearly identifying chemistry at the ground as the missing daytime HONO source in this environment. Comparison between HONO surface flux, solar radiation, NO2 and HNO3 mixing ratios, and results from 1-D model runs suggest that, under high NOx conditions, HONO formation mechanisms related to solar radiation and NO2 mixing ratios, such as photo-enhanced conversion of NO2 on the ground, are most likely the source of daytime HONO. Under moderate to low NO2 conditions, photolysis of HNO3 on the ground seems to be the main source of HONO.

scholarly journals Nitrous acid formation in a snow-free wintertime polluted rural area

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catalina Tsai ◽  
Max Spolaor ◽  
Santo Fedele Colosimo ◽  
Olga Pikelnaya ◽  
Ross Cheung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Nitrous Acid ◽  
Surface Flux ◽  
Surface Fluxes ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
Chemical Mechanism ◽  
Formation Mechanisms ◽  
Diffusivity Coefficient ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Mixing Ratios

Abstract. Nitrous acid (HONO) photolysis is an important source of hydroxyl radicals (OH) in the lower atmosphere, in particular in winter when other OH sources are less efficient. The nighttime formation of HONO and its photolysis in the early morning have long been recognized as an important contributor to the OH budget in polluted environments. Over the past few decades it has become clear that the formation of HONO during the day is an even larger contributor to the OH budget, and additionally provides a pathway to recycle NOx. Despite the recognition of this unidentified HONO daytime source, the precise chemical mechanism remains elusive. A number of mechanisms have been proposed, including gas-phase, aerosol, and ground surface processes, to explain the elevated levels of daytime HONO. To identify the likely HONO formation mechanisms in a wintertime polluted rural environment we present LP-DOAS observations of HONO, NO2, and O3 on three absorption paths that cover altitude intervals from 2 m to 31 m, 45 m, and 68 m agl during the UBWOS 2012 experiment in the Uintah Basin, Utah, USA. Daytime HONO mixing ratios in the 2–31 m height interval were, on average, 78 ppt, which is lower than HONO levels measured in most polluted urban environments with similar NO2 mixing ratios of 1–2 ppb. HONO surface fluxes at 16 m agl, calculated using the HONO gradients from the LP-DOAS and measured eddy diffusivity coefficient, show clear upward fluxes. The hourly average vertical HONO flux during sunny days followed solar irradiance, with a maximum of (4.9 ± 0.2) x 1010 molec. cm−2 s−1 at noontime. A photo-stationary state analysis of the HONO budget shows that the surface flux closes the HONO budget, accounting for 63 ± 32 % of the unidentified HONO daytime source throughout the day and 90 ± 30 % near noontime. This is also supported by 1D chemistry and transport model calculations that include the measured surface flux, thus clearly identifying chemistry at the ground as the missing daytime HONO source in this environment. Comparison between HONO surface flux, solar radiation, NO2 and HNO3 mixing ratios and results from 1D model runs suggest that, under high NOx conditions, HONO formation mechanisms related to solar radiation and NO2 mixing ratios, such as photo-enhanced conversion of NO2 on the ground, are most likely the source of daytime HONO. Under moderate to low NO2 conditions, photolysis of HNO3 on the ground seems to be the main source of HONO.

scholarly journals Observations of speciated isoprene nitrates in Beijing: implications for isoprene chemistry

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 6315-6330
Author(s):  
Claire E. Reeves ◽  
Graham P. Mills ◽  
Lisa K. Whalley ◽  
W. Joe F. Acton ◽  
William J. Bloss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Mechanism ◽  
Organic Nitrates ◽  
Isomer Ratio ◽  
Peroxy Radicals ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Field Evidence ◽  
Isoprene Nitrates ◽  
Field Deployment ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Isoprene is the most important biogenic volatile organic compound in the atmosphere. Its calculated impact on ozone (O3) is critically dependent on the model isoprene oxidation chemical scheme, in particular the way the isoprene-derived organic nitrates (IN) are treated. By combining gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, we have developed a system capable of separating and unambiguously measuring individual IN isomers. In this paper we use measurements from its first field deployment, which took place in Beijing as part of the Atmospheric Pollution and Human Health in a Chinese Megacity programme, to test understanding of the isoprene chemistry as simulated in the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM) (v.3.3.1). Seven individual isoprene nitrates were identified and quantified during the campaign: two β-hydroxy nitrates (IHN), four δ-carbonyl nitrates (ICN), and propanone nitrate. Our measurements show that in the summertime conditions experienced in Beijing the ratio of (1-OH, 2-ONO2)-IHN to (4-OH, 3-ONO2)-IHN (the numbers indicate the carbon atom in the isoprene chain to which the radical is added) increases at NO mixing ratios below 2 ppb. This provides observational field evidence of the redistribution of the peroxy radicals derived from OH oxidation of isoprene away from the kinetic ratio towards a new thermodynamic equilibrium consistent with box model calculations. The observed amounts of δ-ICN demonstrate the importance of daytime addition of NO3 to isoprene in Beijing but suggest that the predominant source of the δ-ICN in the model (reaction of NO with δ-nitrooxy peroxy radicals) may be too large. Our speciated measurements of the four δ-ICN exhibit a mean C1 : C4 isomer ratio of 1.4 and a mean trans : cis isomer ratio of 7 and provide insight into the isomeric distribution of the δ-nitrooxy peroxy radicals. Together our measurements and model results indicate that propanone nitrate was formed from the OH oxidation of δ-ICN both during the day and night, as well as from NO3 addition to propene at night. This study demonstrates the value of speciated IN measurements in testing understanding of the isoprene degradation chemistry and shows how more extensive measurements would provide greater constraints. It highlights areas of the isoprene chemistry that warrant further study, in particular the impact of NO on the formation of the IHN and the NO3-initiated isoprene degradation chemistry, as well as the need for further laboratory studies on the formation and the losses of IN, in particular via photolysis of δ-ICN and hydrolysis.

scholarly journals OH regeneration from methacrolein oxidation investigated in the atmosphere simulation chamber SAPHIR

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 7895-7908 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Fuchs ◽  
I.-H. Acir ◽  
B. Bohn ◽  
T. Brauers ◽  
H.-P. Dorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Pathway ◽  
Chemical Mechanism ◽  
Isomerization Reaction ◽  
Initial Reaction ◽  
Oh Radicals ◽  
Peroxy Radicals ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Simulation Chamber

Abstract. Hydroxyl radicals (OH) are the most important reagent for the oxidation of trace gases in the atmosphere. OH concentrations measured during recent field campaigns in isoprene-rich environments were unexpectedly large. A number of studies showed that unimolecular reactions of organic peroxy radicals (RO2) formed in the initial reaction step of isoprene with OH play an important role for the OH budget in the atmosphere at low mixing ratios of nitrogen monoxide (NO) of less than 100 pptv. It has also been suggested that similar reactions potentially play an important role for RO2 from other compounds. Here, we investigate the oxidation of methacrolein (MACR), one major oxidation product of isoprene, by OH in experiments in the simulation chamber SAPHIR under controlled atmospheric conditions. The experiments show that measured OH concentrations are approximately 50% larger than calculated by the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM) for conditions of the experiments (NO mixing ratio of 90 pptv). The analysis of the OH budget reveals an OH source that is not accounted for in MCM, which is correlated with the production rate of RO2 radicals from MACR. In order to balance the measured OH destruction rate, 0.77 OH radicals (1σ error: ± 0.31) need to be additionally reformed from each reaction of OH with MACR. The strong correlation of the missing OH source with the production of RO2 radicals is consistent with the concept of OH formation from unimolecular isomerization and decomposition reactions of RO2. The comparison of observations with model calculations gives a lower limit of 0.03 s−1 for the reaction rate constant if the OH source is attributed to an isomerization reaction of MACR-1-OH-2-OO and MACR-2-OH-2-OO formed in the MACR + OH reaction as suggested in the literature (Crounse et al., 2012). This fast isomerization reaction would be a competitor to the reaction of this RO2 species with a minimum of 150 pptv NO. The isomerization reaction would be the dominant reaction pathway for this specific RO2 radical in forested regions, where NO mixing ratios are typically much smaller.

scholarly journals Radical chemistry at a rural site (Wangdu) in the North China Plain: Observation and model calculations of OH, HO<sub>2</sub> and RO<sub>2</sub> radicals

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaofeng Tan ◽  
Hendrik Fuchs ◽  
Keding Lu ◽  
Birger Bohn ◽  
Sebastian Broch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North China Plain ◽  
North China ◽  
Chemical Mechanism ◽  
Ozone Production ◽  
Rural Site ◽  
Daily Maximum ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
The North ◽  
The North China Plain

Abstract. A comprehensive field campaign was carried out in summer 2014 in Wangdu located in the North China Plain. A month of continuous OH, HO2 and RO2 measurements were achieved. Observations of radicals by laser induced fluorescence (LIF) technique gave daily maximum concentrations between (5–15) × 106 cm−3, (3–14) × 108 cm−3 and (3–15) × 108 cm−3 for OH, HO2 and RO2, respectively. Measured OH reactivities (inverse OH lifetimes) were 10 to 20 s−1 during daytime. A chemical box model constrained by trace-gas observations and based on a state-of-the-art chemical mechanism is used to interpret the observed radical concentrations. In general, the model can reasonably well reproduce measured radical concentrations during daytime. Like in previous field campaigns in China, modelled and measured OH concentrations agree for NO mixing ratios higher than 1 ppbv, but systematic discrepancies are observed in the afternoon for NO mixing ratios of less than 300 pptv (the model-measurement ratio is between 1.4 to 2 in this case). If additional OH recycling equivalent to 100 pptv NO is assumed, the model is also capable of reproducing the observed OH concentrations for conditions of high VOC and low NOx concentrations with good agreement in HO2 and RO2. Observed RO2 concentrations are underestimated in the morning hours by a factor of 3 to 5. This indicates that an additional chemical source of RO2 is missing in the model. The OH reactivity is also underpredicted in the early morning. Increasing VOC concentrations to match measured OH reactivity helps to reduce the discrepancy between modelled and measured RO2. The underprediction of RO2 coincides with high NO concentrations and therefore leads to a significant underestimation of the local ozone production rates determined from the peroxy radical (HO2 and RO2) reactions with NO. The underestimation corresponds to a daily integral ozone production of about 20 ppbv per day.

scholarly journals Sensitivity of tropospheric chemical composition to halogen-radical chemistry using a fully coupled size-resolved multiphase chemistry–global climate system: halogen distributions, aerosol composition, and sensitivity of climate-relevant gases

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 3397-3425 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Long ◽  
W. C. Keene ◽  
R. C. Easter ◽  
R. Sander ◽  
X. Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Climate ◽  
Global Climate Model ◽  
Sea Salt ◽  
Tropospheric Chemistry ◽  
Chemical Mechanism ◽  
Marine Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Composition ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Halogen Chemistry

Abstract. Observations and model calculations indicate that highly non-linear multiphase atmospheric processes involving inorganic Cl and Br significantly impact tropospheric chemistry and composition, aerosol evolution, and radiative transfer. The sensitivity of global atmospheric chemistry to the production of marine aerosol and the associated activation and cycling of inorganic Cl and Br was investigated using a size-resolved multiphase coupled chemistry–global climate model (National Center for Atmospheric Research's Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) v3.6.33). Simulated results revealed strong meridional and vertical gradients in Cl and Br species. They also point to possible physicochemical mechanisms that may account for several previously unexplained phenomena, including the enrichment of Br- in submicron aerosol and the presence of a BrO maximum in the polar free troposphere. However, simulated total volatile inorganic Br mixing ratios in the troposphere were generally higher than observed, due in part to the overly efficient net production of BrCl. In addition, the emission scheme for marine aerosol and associated Br−, which is the only source for Br in the model, overestimates emission fluxes from the high-latitude Southern Ocean. Br in the stratosphere was lower than observed due to the lack of long-lived precursor organobromine species in the simulation. Comparing simulations using chemical mechanisms with and without reactive Cl and Br species demonstrates a significant temporal and spatial sensitivity of primary atmospheric oxidants (O3, HOx, NOx), CH4, non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) to halogen cycling. Globally, halogen chemistry had relatively less impact on SO2 and non-sea-salt (nss) SO42− although significant regional differences were evident. Although variable geographically, much of this sensitivity is attributable to either over-vigorous activation of Br (primarily BrCl) via the chemical mechanism or overproduction of sea-salt aerosol simulated under higher-wind regimes. In regions where simulated mixing ratios of reactive Br and Cl fell within observed ranges, though, halogen chemistry drove large changes in oxidant fields and associated chemical processes relative to simulations with no halogens. However, the overall simulated impacts of Br chemistry globally are overestimated and thus caution is warranted in their interpretation.

scholarly journals Investigation of the <i>α</i>-pinene photooxidation by OH in the atmospheric simulation chamber SAPHIR

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (18) ◽  
pp. 11635-11649
Author(s):  
Michael Rolletter ◽  
Martin Kaminski ◽  
Ismail-Hakki Acir ◽  
Birger Bohn ◽  
Hans-Peter Dorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Oxidation Mechanism ◽  
Peroxy Radical ◽  
Chemical Oxidation ◽  
Oxidation Products ◽  
Chemical Mechanism ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Measured Time ◽  
Simulation Chamber

Abstract. The photooxidation of the most abundant monoterpene, α-pinene, by the hydroxyl radical (OH) was investigated at atmospheric concentrations in the atmospheric simulation chamber SAPHIR. Concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) were below 120 pptv. Yields of organic oxidation products are determined from measured time series giving values of 0.11±0.05, 0.19±0.06, and 0.05±0.03 for formaldehyde, acetone, and pinonaldehyde, respectively. The pinonaldehyde yield is at the low side of yields measured in previous laboratory studies, ranging from 0.06 to 0.87. These studies were mostly performed at reactant concentrations much higher than observed in the atmosphere. Time series of measured radical and trace-gas concentrations are compared to results from model calculations applying the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM) 3.3.1. The model predicts pinonaldehyde mixing ratios that are at least a factor of 4 higher than measured values. At the same time, modeled hydroxyl and hydroperoxy (HO2) radical concentrations are approximately 25 % lower than measured values. Vereecken et al. (2007) suggested a shift of the initial organic peroxy radical (RO2) distribution towards RO2 species that do not yield pinonaldehyde but produce other organic products. Implementing these modifications reduces the model–measurement gap of pinonaldehyde by 20 % and also improves the agreement in modeled and measured radical concentrations by 10 %. However, the chemical oxidation mechanism needs further adjustment to explain observed radical and pinonaldehyde concentrations. This could be achieved by adjusting the initial RO2 distribution, but could also be done by implementing alternative reaction channels of RO2 species that currently lead to the formation of pinonaldehyde in the model.

scholarly journals Large mixing ratios of atmospheric nitrous acid (HONO) at Concordia (East Antarctic Plateau) in summer: a strong source from surface snow?

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 9963-9976 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Legrand ◽  
S. Preunkert ◽  
M. Frey ◽  
Th. Bartels-Rausch ◽  
A. Kukui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Acid ◽  
Austral Summer ◽  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
No Oxidation ◽  
Local Source ◽  
Mixing Ratio ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Antarctic Plateau ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Surface Snow

Abstract. During the austral summer 2011/2012 atmospheric nitrous acid (HONO) was investigated for the second time at the Concordia site (75°06' S, 123°33' E), located on the East Antarctic Plateau, by deploying a long-path absorption photometer (LOPAP). Hourly mixing ratios of HONO measured in December 2011/January 2012 (35 ± 5.0 pptv) were similar to those measured in December 2010/January 2011 (30.4 ± 3.5 pptv). The large value of the HONO mixing ratio at the remote Concordia site suggests a local source of HONO in addition to weak production from oxidation of NO by the OH radical. Laboratory experiments demonstrate that surface snow removed from Concordia can produce gas-phase HONO at mixing ratios half that of the NOx mixing ratio produced in the same experiment at typical temperatures encountered at Concordia in summer. Using these lab data and the emission flux of NOx from snow estimated from the vertical gradient of atmospheric concentrations measured during the campaign, a mean diurnal HONO snow emission ranging between 0.5 and 0.8 × 109 molecules cm−2 s−1 is calculated. Model calculations indicate that, in addition to around 1.2 pptv of HONO produced by the NO oxidation, these HONO snow emissions can only explain 6.5 to 10.5 pptv of HONO in the atmosphere at Concordia. To explain the difference between observed and simulated HONO mixing ratios, tests were done both in the field and at lab to explore the possibility that the presence of HNO4 had biased the measurements of HONO.

scholarly journals Large mixing ratios of atmospheric nitrous acid (HONO) at Concordia (East Antarctic plateau) in summer: a strong source from surface snow?

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 11749-11785 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Legrand ◽  
S. Preunkert ◽  
M. Frey ◽  
T. Bartels-Rausch ◽  
A. Kukui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Acid ◽  
Austral Summer ◽  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
No Oxidation ◽  
Local Source ◽  
Mixing Ratio ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Antarctic Plateau ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Surface Snow

Abstract. During the austral summer 2011/2012 atmospheric nitrous acid was investigated for the second time at the Concordia site (75°06' S, 123°33' E) located on the East Antarctic plateau by deploying a long path absorption photometer (LOPAP). Hourly mixing ratios of HONO measured in December 2011/January 2012 (35 ± 5.0 pptv) were similar to those measured in December 2010/January 2011 (30.4 ± 3.5 pptv). The large value of the HONO mixing ratio at the remote Concordia site suggests a local source of HONO in addition to weak production from oxidation of NO by the OH radical. Laboratory experiments demonstrate that surface snow removed from Concordia can produce gas phase HONO at mixing ratios half that of NOx mixing ratio produced in the same experiment at typical temperatures encountered at Concordia in summer. Using these lab data and the emission flux of NOx from snow estimated from the vertical gradient of atmospheric concentrations measured during the campaign, a mean diurnal HONO snow emission ranging between 0.5 and 0.8 × 109 molecules cm−2 s−1 is calculated. Model calculations indicate that, in addition to around 1.2 pptv of HONO produced by the NO oxidation, these HONO snow emissions can only explain 6.5 to 10.5 pptv of HONO in the atmosphere at Concordia. To explain the difference between observed and simulated HONO mixing ratios, tests were done both in the field and at lab to explore the possibility that the presence of HNO4 had biased the measurements of HONO.

scholarly journals Investigation of the α-pinene photooxidation by OH in the atmospheric simulation chamber SAPHIR

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Rolletter ◽  
Martin Kaminski ◽  
Ismail-Hakki Acir ◽  
Birger Bohn ◽  
Hans-Peter Dorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Oxidation Mechanism ◽  
Peroxy Radical ◽  
Chemical Oxidation ◽  
Oxidation Products ◽  
Chemical Mechanism ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Measured Time ◽  
Simulation Chamber

Abstract. The photooxidation of the most abundant monoterpene α-pinene, by the hydroxyl radical (OH) was investigated at atmospheric concentrations in the atmospheric simulation chamber SAPHIR. Concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) were below 120 pptv. Yields of organic oxidation products are determined from measured time series giving values of 0.11 ± 0.05, 0.19 ± 0.06, and 0.05 ± 0.03 for formaldehyde, acetone, and pinonaldehyde, respectively. The pinonaldehyde yield is at the low side of yields measured in previous laboratory studies, ranging from 0.06 to 0.87. These studies were mostly performed at reactant concentrations much higher than observed in the atmosphere. Time series of measured radical and trace gas concentrations are compared to results from model calculations applying the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM) 3.3.1. The model predicts pinonaldehyde mixing ratios that are at least a factor of 4 higher than measured values. At the same time, modelled hydroxyl and hydroperoxy (HO2) radical concentrations are approximately 25 % lower than measured values. Vereecken et al. (2007) suggested a shift of the initial organic peroxy radical (RO2) distribution towards RO2 species that do not yield pinonaldehyde, but produce other organic products. Implementing these modifications reduces the model-measurement gap of pinonaldehyde by 20 % and also improves the agreement in modelled and measured radical concentrations by 10 %. However, the chemical oxidation mechanism needs further adjustment to explain observed radical and pinonaldehyde concentrations. This could be achieved by adjusting the initial RO2 distribution, but could also be done by implementing alternative reaction channels of RO2 species that currently lead to the formation of pinonaldehyde in the model.

scholarly journals What do <sup>14</sup>CO measurements tell us about OH?

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 10405-10438 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Krol ◽  
J. Fokke Meirink ◽  
P. Bergamaschi ◽  
J. E. Mak ◽  
D. Lowe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Source Region ◽  
Upper Atmosphere ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
Atmospheric Measurements ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Short Time Span ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Model Measurement

Abstract. The possible use of 14CO measurements to constrain hydroxyl radical (OH) concentrations in the atmosphere is investigated.14CO is mainly produced in the upper atmosphere from cosmic radiation. During transport to measurement locations at the Earth's surface 14CO is oxidized by OH. In this paper, the sensitivity of 14CO mixing ratio measurements to the 3-D OH distribution is assessed with the TM5 model. Simulated 14CO mixing ratios compare reasonably well with atmospheric measurements taken at five locations worldwide. As a next step, the sensitivity of 14CO measurements to OH is calculated with the adjoint TM5 model. For our sensitivity calculations the adjoint methodology outlined in the paper offers computational advantages compared to forward model calculations. The results indicate that 14CO measurements, especially those taken in the tropics, are sensitive to OH in a spatially confined region. Moreover, the OH sensitivity at a certain location varies strongly over time due to meteorological variability. On average, 14CO measurements are about 5 times more sensitive to OH at high latitudes than to OH in the tropics. Moreover, the measurements are sensitive to OH in the main 14CO source region in the upper atmosphere. It will therefore be difficult to assign model-measurement discrepancies to either the 14CO source uncertainty or to the OH sink. Nevertheless, the large distance between the 14CO source region and the measurement locations should allow the retrieval of information on OH. Specifically, the sensitivity to OH in the lower atmosphere during a relatively short time span may offer the possibility to constrain local OH. These efforts will strongly depend on the number of measurements available and on our ability to accurately model the 14CO transport.

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