Simulation of the size-composition distribution of atmospheric nanoparticles over Europe
David Patoulias1,2,Christos Fountoukis2,3,Ilona Riipinen4,5,Ari Asmi6,Markku Kulmala6,and Spyros N. Pandis1,2,7David Patoulias et al. David Patoulias1,2,Christos Fountoukis2,3,Ilona Riipinen4,5,Ari Asmi6,Markku Kulmala6,and Spyros N. Pandis1,2,7
1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, Patras,
Greece
2Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Foundation for Research
and Technology – Hellas (FORTH/ICE-HT), Patras, Greece
3Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa
University, Doha, Qatar
4Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES) and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
5Aerosol Physics, Faculty of Science, Tampere University of
Technology, Tampere,
Finland
6Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, P.O. Box 64, 00014, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
7Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, Patras,
Greece
2Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Foundation for Research
and Technology – Hellas (FORTH/ICE-HT), Patras, Greece
3Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa
University, Doha, Qatar
4Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES) and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
5Aerosol Physics, Faculty of Science, Tampere University of
Technology, Tampere,
Finland
6Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, P.O. Box 64, 00014, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
7Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Correspondence: Spyros N. Pandis (spyros@chemeng.upatras.gr)
Received: 24 Jan 2018 – Discussion started: 26 Mar 2018 – Revised: 28 Jul 2018 – Accepted: 28 Aug 2018 – Published: 27 Sep 2018
Abstract. PMCAMx-UF, a three-dimensional chemical transport model focusing on the simulation of the ultrafine particle size distribution and composition has been extended with the addition of the volatility basis set (VBS) approach for the simulation of organic aerosol (OA). The model was applied in Europe to quantify the effect of secondary semi-volatile organic vapors on particle number concentrations. The model predictions were evaluated against field observations collected during the PEGASOS 2012 campaign. The measurements included both ground and airborne measurements, from stations across Europe and a zeppelin measuring above Po Valley. The ground level concentrations of particles with a diameter larger than 100 nm (N100) were reproduced with a daily normalized mean error of 40 % and a daily normalized mean bias of −20 %. PMCAMx-UF tended to overestimate the concentration of particles with a diameter larger than 10 nm (N10) with a daily normalized mean bias of 75 %. The model was able to reproduce, within a factor of 2, 85 % of the N10 and 75 % of the N100 zeppelin measurements above ground. The condensation of organics led to an increase (50 %–120 %) in the N100 concentration mainly in central and northern Europe, while the N10 concentration decreased by 10 %–30 %. Including the VBS in PMCAMx-UF improved its ability to simulate aerosol number concentration compared to simulations neglecting organic condensation on ultrafine particles.
PMCAMx-UF, a 3-D chemical transport model focusing on the simulation of ultrafine particles, has been extended with the addition of the volatility basis set (VBS) approach for the simulation of organic aerosol. The model was applied in Europe and its predictions were evaluated against field observations collected during the PEGASOS 2012 campaign. The condensation of organics led to an increase (50–120 %) in the larger particles but the total number concentration decreased by 10–30 %.
PMCAMx-UF, a 3-D chemical transport model focusing on the simulation of ultrafine particles, has...
