Research article
20 Sep 2011
Research article | 20 Sep 2011
Modelling atmospheric OH-reactivity in a boreal forest ecosystem
D. Mogensen1,2, S. Smolander1, A. Sogachev3, L. Zhou1, V. Sinha4,5, A. Guenther6, J. Williams4, T. Nieminen1, M. K. Kajos1, J. Rinne1, M. Kulmala1, and M. Boy1
D. Mogensen et al.
D. Mogensen1,2, S. Smolander1, A. Sogachev3, L. Zhou1, V. Sinha4,5, A. Guenther6, J. Williams4, T. Nieminen1, M. K. Kajos1, J. Rinne1, M. Kulmala1, and M. Boy1
- 1Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 48, University of Helsinki, 00014, Finland
- 2Helsinki University Centre for Environment, P.O. Box 27, University of Helsinki, 00014, Finland
- 3Wind Energy Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark, Building 118, Box 49, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
- 4Max Planck Institute of Chemistry, J. Becher Weg 27, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- 5Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, MGSIPAP Complex, Sector 26, Chandigarh 160019, India
- 6National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307, USA
- 1Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 48, University of Helsinki, 00014, Finland
- 2Helsinki University Centre for Environment, P.O. Box 27, University of Helsinki, 00014, Finland
- 3Wind Energy Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark, Building 118, Box 49, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
- 4Max Planck Institute of Chemistry, J. Becher Weg 27, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- 5Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, MGSIPAP Complex, Sector 26, Chandigarh 160019, India
- 6National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307, USA
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Received: 11 Mar 2011 – Discussion started: 17 Mar 2011 – Revised: 29 Jul 2011 – Accepted: 12 Sep 2011 – Published: 20 Sep 2011
We have modelled the total atmospheric OH-reactivity in a boreal forest and investigated the individual contributions from gas phase inorganic species, isoprene, monoterpenes, and methane along with other important VOCs. Daily and seasonal variation in OH-reactivity for the year 2008 was examined as well as the vertical OH-reactivity profile. We have used SOSA; a one dimensional vertical chemistry-transport model (Boy et al., 2011a) together with measurements from Hyytiälä, SMEAR II station, Southern Finland, conducted in August 2008. Model simulations only account for ~30–50% of the total measured OH sink, and in our opinion, the reason for missing OH-reactivity is due to unmeasured unknown BVOCs, and limitations in our knowledge of atmospheric chemistry including uncertainties in rate constants. Furthermore, we found that the OH-reactivity correlates with both organic and inorganic compounds and increases during summer. The summertime canopy level OH-reactivity peaks during night and the vertical OH-reactivity decreases with height.