Articles | Volume 19, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-459-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-459-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
14 Jan 2019
Research article |
| 14 Jan 2019
| 14 Jan 2019
Estimation of atmospheric total organic carbon (TOC) – paving the path towards carbon budget closure
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, UK
Zoë L. Fleming
National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS), Department of
Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
now at: Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR2), Departamento
de Geofísica, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Related authors
Alex T. Archibald, Bablu Sinha, Maria R. Russo, Emily Matthews, Freya A. Squires, N. Luke Abraham, Stephane J.-B. Bauguitte, Thomas J. Bannan, Thomas G. Bell, David Berry, Lucy J. Carpenter, Hugh Coe, Andrew Coward, Peter Edwards, Daniel Feltham, Dwayne Heard, Jim Hopkins, James Keeble, Elizabeth C. Kent, Brian A. King, Isobel R. Lawrence, James Lee, Claire R. Macintosh, Alex Megann, Bengamin I. Moat, Katie Read, Chris Reed, Malcolm J. Roberts, Reinhard Schiemann, David Schroeder, Timothy J. Smyth, Loren Temple, Navaneeth Thamban, Lisa Whalley, Simon Williams, Huihui Wu, and Mingxi Yang
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Here, we present an overview of the data generated as part of the North Atlantic Climate System Integrated Study (ACSIS) programme that are available through dedicated repositories at the Centre for Environmental Data Analysis (CEDA; www.ceda.ac.uk) and the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC; bodc.ac.uk). The datasets described here cover the North Atlantic Ocean, the atmosphere above (it including its composition), and Arctic sea ice.
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Biogeosciences, 21, 4453–4467, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4453-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4453-2024, 2024
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Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is the largest natural source of sulfur in the atmosphere and leads to the formation of cloud condensation nuclei. DMS emissions and quantification of their impacts have large uncertainties, but a detailed study on the range of emissions and drivers of their uncertainty is missing to date. The emissions are calculated from the seawater DMS concentrations and a flux parameterization. Here we quantify the differences in the effect of flux parameterizations used in models.
Charel Wohl, Anna E. Jones, William T. Sturges, Philip D. Nightingale, Brent Else, Brian J. Butterworth, and Mingxi Yang
Biogeosciences, 19, 1021–1045, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1021-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1021-2022, 2022
Short summary
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We measured concentrations of five different organic gases in seawater in the high Arctic during summer. We found higher concentrations near the surface of the water column (top 5–10 m) and in areas of partial ice cover. This suggests that sea ice influences the concentrations of these gases. These gases indirectly exert a slight cooling effect on the climate, and it is therefore important to measure the levels accurately for future climate predictions.
Matthew W. Christensen, Andrew Gettelman, Jan Cermak, Guy Dagan, Michael Diamond, Alyson Douglas, Graham Feingold, Franziska Glassmeier, Tom Goren, Daniel P. Grosvenor, Edward Gryspeerdt, Ralph Kahn, Zhanqing Li, Po-Lun Ma, Florent Malavelle, Isabel L. McCoy, Daniel T. McCoy, Greg McFarquhar, Johannes Mülmenstädt, Sandip Pal, Anna Possner, Adam Povey, Johannes Quaas, Daniel Rosenfeld, Anja Schmidt, Roland Schrödner, Armin Sorooshian, Philip Stier, Velle Toll, Duncan Watson-Parris, Robert Wood, Mingxi Yang, and Tianle Yuan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 641–674, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-641-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-641-2022, 2022
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Trace gases and aerosols (tiny airborne particles) are released from a variety of point sources around the globe. Examples include volcanoes, industrial chimneys, forest fires, and ship stacks. These sources provide opportunistic experiments with which to quantify the role of aerosols in modifying cloud properties. We review the current state of understanding on the influence of aerosol on climate built from the wide range of natural and anthropogenic laboratories investigated in recent decades.
Daniel P. Phillips, Frances E. Hopkins, Thomas G. Bell, Peter S. Liss, Philip D. Nightingale, Claire E. Reeves, Charel Wohl, and Mingxi Yang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 10111–10132, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-10111-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-10111-2021, 2021
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We present the first measurements of the rate of transfer (flux) of three gases between the atmosphere and the ocean, using a direct flux measurement technique, at a coastal site. We show greater atmospheric loss of acetone and acetaldehyde into the ocean than estimated by global models for the open water; importantly, the acetaldehyde transfer direction is opposite to the model estimates. Measured dimethylsulfide fluxes agreed with a recent model. Isoprene fluxes were too weak to be measured.
Yuanxu Dong, Mingxi Yang, Dorothee C. E. Bakker, Vassilis Kitidis, and Thomas G. Bell
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 8089–8110, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-8089-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-8089-2021, 2021
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Eddy covariance (EC) is the most direct method for measuring air–sea CO2 flux from ships. However, uncertainty in EC air–sea CO2 fluxes has not been well quantified. Here we show that with the state-of-the-art gas analysers, instrumental noise no longer contributes significantly to the CO2 flux uncertainty. Applying an appropriate averaging timescale (1–3 h) and suitable air–sea CO2 fugacity threshold (at least 20 µatm) to EC flux data enables an optimal analysis of the gas transfer velocity.
David C. Loades, Mingxi Yang, Thomas G. Bell, Adam R. Vaughan, Ryan J. Pound, Stefan Metzger, James D. Lee, and Lucy J. Carpenter
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 6915–6931, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-6915-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-6915-2020, 2020
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The loss of ozone to the sea surface was measured from the south coast of the UK and was found to be more rapid than previous observations over the open ocean. This is likely a consequence of different chemistry and biology in coastal environments. Strong winds appeared to speed up the loss of ozone. A better understanding of what influences ozone loss over the sea will lead to better model estimates of total ozone in the troposphere.
Charel Wohl, Ian Brown, Vassilis Kitidis, Anna E. Jones, William T. Sturges, Philip D. Nightingale, and Mingxi Yang
Biogeosciences, 17, 2593–2619, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2593-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2593-2020, 2020
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The oceans represent a poorly understood source of organic carbon to the atmosphere. In this paper, we present ship-based measurements of specific compounds in ambient air and seawater of the Southern Ocean. We present fluxes of these gases between air and sea at very high resolution. The data also contain evidence for day and night variations in some of these compounds. These measurements can be used to better understand the role of the Southern Ocean in the cycling of these compounds.
Mingxi Yang, Sarah J. Norris, Thomas G. Bell, and Ian M. Brooks
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 15271–15284, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-15271-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-15271-2019, 2019
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This work reports direct measurements of sea spray fluxes from a coastal site in the UK, which are relevant for atmospheric chemistry as well as coastal air quality. Sea spray fluxes from this location are roughly an order of magnitude greater than over the open ocean at similar wind conditions, comparable to previous coastal measurements. Unlike previous open ocean measurements that are largely wind speed dependent, we find that sea spray fluxes near the coast depend more strongly on waves.
Charel Wohl, David Capelle, Anna Jones, William T. Sturges, Philip D. Nightingale, Brent G. T. Else, and Mingxi Yang
Ocean Sci., 15, 925–940, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-15-925-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-15-925-2019, 2019
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In this paper we present a gas equilibrator that can be used to equilibrate gases continuously or in discrete samples from seawater into a carrier gas. The headspace is analysed by a commercially available proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometer. This allows for the measurement of a broad range of dissolved gases up to a very high solubility in seawater. The main advantage of this equilibrator is its unique design and ease of reproducibility.
Mingxi Yang, Thomas G. Bell, Ian J. Brown, James R. Fishwick, Vassilis Kitidis, Philip D. Nightingale, Andrew P. Rees, and Timothy J. Smyth
Biogeosciences, 16, 961–978, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-961-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-961-2019, 2019
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We quantify the emissions and uptake of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane from the coastal seas of the UK over 1 year using the state-of-the-art eddy covariance technique. Our measurements show how these air–sea fluxes vary twice a day (tidal), diurnally (circadian) and seasonally. We also estimate the air–sea gas transfer velocity, which is essential for modelling and predicting coastal air-sea exchange.
Richard P. Sims, Ute Schuster, Andrew J. Watson, Ming Xi Yang, Frances E. Hopkins, John Stephens, and Thomas G. Bell
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Thomas G. Bell, Sebastian Landwehr, Scott D. Miller, Warren J. de Bruyn, Adrian H. Callaghan, Brian Scanlon, Brian Ward, Mingxi Yang, and Eric S. Saltzman
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The mechanisms that determine the air–sea exchange of gases such as carbon dioxide are not well understood. During a research cruise in the North Atlantic, we simultaneously measured the air–sea transfer of two gases with contrasting solubility over a range in wind and wave conditions. We compare the transfer of these gases to improve understanding of how bubbles from breaking waves may mediate air–sea gas fluxes.
Mingxi Yang, John Prytherch, Elena Kozlova, Margaret J. Yelland, Deepulal Parenkat Mony, and Thomas G. Bell
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 5509–5522, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-5509-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-5509-2016, 2016
Short summary
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The exchange of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane between the ocean and the atmosphere is of critical importance for the earth's climate. Despite this, direct measurements of these fluxes are relatively scarce, especially for methane, in large part due to instrumental challenges. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of two of the latest carbon dioxide and methane flux analysers. We also compare their detection limits to predicted air–sea fluxes of these gases.
Mingxi Yang, Thomas G. Bell, Frances E. Hopkins, Vassilis Kitidis, Pierre W. Cazenave, Philip D. Nightingale, Margaret J. Yelland, Robin W. Pascal, John Prytherch, Ian M. Brooks, and Timothy J. Smyth
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 5745–5761, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-5745-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-5745-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Coastal seas are sources of methane in the atmosphere and can fluctuate from emitting to absorbing carbon dioxide. Direct air–sea transport measurements of these two greenhouse gases in near shore regions remain scarce. From a recently established coastal atmospheric station on the south-west coast of the UK, we observed that the oceanic absorption of carbon dioxide peaked during the phytoplankton bloom, while methane emission varied with the tidal cycle, likely due to an estuary influence.
Mingxi Yang, Thomas G. Bell, Frances E. Hopkins, and Timothy J. Smyth
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 4771–4783, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-4771-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-4771-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Exhausts from ships are an important source of air pollution in coastal regions. We observed a ~ 3 fold reduction in the level of sulfur dioxide (a principle pollutant) from the English Channel from 2014 to 2015 after the new International Maritime Organisation regulation on ship sulfur emission became law. Our estimated ship's fuel sulfur content shows a high degree of compliance. Dimethylsulfide from the marine biota becomes a relatively more important source of sulfur in coastal marine air.
M. Yang, R. Beale, P. Liss, M. Johnson, B. Blomquist, and P. Nightingale
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 7499–7517, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-7499-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-7499-2014, 2014
M. Yang, R. Beale, T. Smyth, and B. Blomquist
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 6165–6184, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-6165-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-6165-2013, 2013
Alex T. Archibald, Bablu Sinha, Maria R. Russo, Emily Matthews, Freya A. Squires, N. Luke Abraham, Stephane J.-B. Bauguitte, Thomas J. Bannan, Thomas G. Bell, David Berry, Lucy J. Carpenter, Hugh Coe, Andrew Coward, Peter Edwards, Daniel Feltham, Dwayne Heard, Jim Hopkins, James Keeble, Elizabeth C. Kent, Brian A. King, Isobel R. Lawrence, James Lee, Claire R. Macintosh, Alex Megann, Bengamin I. Moat, Katie Read, Chris Reed, Malcolm J. Roberts, Reinhard Schiemann, David Schroeder, Timothy J. Smyth, Loren Temple, Navaneeth Thamban, Lisa Whalley, Simon Williams, Huihui Wu, and Mingxi Yang
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 17, 135–164, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-135-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-135-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Here, we present an overview of the data generated as part of the North Atlantic Climate System Integrated Study (ACSIS) programme that are available through dedicated repositories at the Centre for Environmental Data Analysis (CEDA; www.ceda.ac.uk) and the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC; bodc.ac.uk). The datasets described here cover the North Atlantic Ocean, the atmosphere above (it including its composition), and Arctic sea ice.
Sankirna D. Joge, Anoop S. Mahajan, Shrivardhan Hulswar, Christa A. Marandino, Martí Galí, Thomas G. Bell, Mingxi Yang, and Rafel Simó
Biogeosciences, 21, 4453–4467, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4453-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4453-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is the largest natural source of sulfur in the atmosphere and leads to the formation of cloud condensation nuclei. DMS emissions and quantification of their impacts have large uncertainties, but a detailed study on the range of emissions and drivers of their uncertainty is missing to date. The emissions are calculated from the seawater DMS concentrations and a flux parameterization. Here we quantify the differences in the effect of flux parameterizations used in models.
Charel Wohl, Anna E. Jones, William T. Sturges, Philip D. Nightingale, Brent Else, Brian J. Butterworth, and Mingxi Yang
Biogeosciences, 19, 1021–1045, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1021-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1021-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We measured concentrations of five different organic gases in seawater in the high Arctic during summer. We found higher concentrations near the surface of the water column (top 5–10 m) and in areas of partial ice cover. This suggests that sea ice influences the concentrations of these gases. These gases indirectly exert a slight cooling effect on the climate, and it is therefore important to measure the levels accurately for future climate predictions.
Matthew W. Christensen, Andrew Gettelman, Jan Cermak, Guy Dagan, Michael Diamond, Alyson Douglas, Graham Feingold, Franziska Glassmeier, Tom Goren, Daniel P. Grosvenor, Edward Gryspeerdt, Ralph Kahn, Zhanqing Li, Po-Lun Ma, Florent Malavelle, Isabel L. McCoy, Daniel T. McCoy, Greg McFarquhar, Johannes Mülmenstädt, Sandip Pal, Anna Possner, Adam Povey, Johannes Quaas, Daniel Rosenfeld, Anja Schmidt, Roland Schrödner, Armin Sorooshian, Philip Stier, Velle Toll, Duncan Watson-Parris, Robert Wood, Mingxi Yang, and Tianle Yuan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 641–674, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-641-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-641-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Trace gases and aerosols (tiny airborne particles) are released from a variety of point sources around the globe. Examples include volcanoes, industrial chimneys, forest fires, and ship stacks. These sources provide opportunistic experiments with which to quantify the role of aerosols in modifying cloud properties. We review the current state of understanding on the influence of aerosol on climate built from the wide range of natural and anthropogenic laboratories investigated in recent decades.
Daniel P. Phillips, Frances E. Hopkins, Thomas G. Bell, Peter S. Liss, Philip D. Nightingale, Claire E. Reeves, Charel Wohl, and Mingxi Yang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 10111–10132, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-10111-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-10111-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We present the first measurements of the rate of transfer (flux) of three gases between the atmosphere and the ocean, using a direct flux measurement technique, at a coastal site. We show greater atmospheric loss of acetone and acetaldehyde into the ocean than estimated by global models for the open water; importantly, the acetaldehyde transfer direction is opposite to the model estimates. Measured dimethylsulfide fluxes agreed with a recent model. Isoprene fluxes were too weak to be measured.
Yuanxu Dong, Mingxi Yang, Dorothee C. E. Bakker, Vassilis Kitidis, and Thomas G. Bell
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 8089–8110, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-8089-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-8089-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Eddy covariance (EC) is the most direct method for measuring air–sea CO2 flux from ships. However, uncertainty in EC air–sea CO2 fluxes has not been well quantified. Here we show that with the state-of-the-art gas analysers, instrumental noise no longer contributes significantly to the CO2 flux uncertainty. Applying an appropriate averaging timescale (1–3 h) and suitable air–sea CO2 fugacity threshold (at least 20 µatm) to EC flux data enables an optimal analysis of the gas transfer velocity.
David C. Loades, Mingxi Yang, Thomas G. Bell, Adam R. Vaughan, Ryan J. Pound, Stefan Metzger, James D. Lee, and Lucy J. Carpenter
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 6915–6931, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-6915-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-6915-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The loss of ozone to the sea surface was measured from the south coast of the UK and was found to be more rapid than previous observations over the open ocean. This is likely a consequence of different chemistry and biology in coastal environments. Strong winds appeared to speed up the loss of ozone. A better understanding of what influences ozone loss over the sea will lead to better model estimates of total ozone in the troposphere.
Charel Wohl, Ian Brown, Vassilis Kitidis, Anna E. Jones, William T. Sturges, Philip D. Nightingale, and Mingxi Yang
Biogeosciences, 17, 2593–2619, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2593-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2593-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The oceans represent a poorly understood source of organic carbon to the atmosphere. In this paper, we present ship-based measurements of specific compounds in ambient air and seawater of the Southern Ocean. We present fluxes of these gases between air and sea at very high resolution. The data also contain evidence for day and night variations in some of these compounds. These measurements can be used to better understand the role of the Southern Ocean in the cycling of these compounds.
Mingxi Yang, Sarah J. Norris, Thomas G. Bell, and Ian M. Brooks
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 15271–15284, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-15271-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-15271-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This work reports direct measurements of sea spray fluxes from a coastal site in the UK, which are relevant for atmospheric chemistry as well as coastal air quality. Sea spray fluxes from this location are roughly an order of magnitude greater than over the open ocean at similar wind conditions, comparable to previous coastal measurements. Unlike previous open ocean measurements that are largely wind speed dependent, we find that sea spray fluxes near the coast depend more strongly on waves.
Charel Wohl, David Capelle, Anna Jones, William T. Sturges, Philip D. Nightingale, Brent G. T. Else, and Mingxi Yang
Ocean Sci., 15, 925–940, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-15-925-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-15-925-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper we present a gas equilibrator that can be used to equilibrate gases continuously or in discrete samples from seawater into a carrier gas. The headspace is analysed by a commercially available proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometer. This allows for the measurement of a broad range of dissolved gases up to a very high solubility in seawater. The main advantage of this equilibrator is its unique design and ease of reproducibility.
Mingxi Yang, Thomas G. Bell, Ian J. Brown, James R. Fishwick, Vassilis Kitidis, Philip D. Nightingale, Andrew P. Rees, and Timothy J. Smyth
Biogeosciences, 16, 961–978, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-961-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-961-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We quantify the emissions and uptake of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane from the coastal seas of the UK over 1 year using the state-of-the-art eddy covariance technique. Our measurements show how these air–sea fluxes vary twice a day (tidal), diurnally (circadian) and seasonally. We also estimate the air–sea gas transfer velocity, which is essential for modelling and predicting coastal air-sea exchange.
Richard P. Sims, Ute Schuster, Andrew J. Watson, Ming Xi Yang, Frances E. Hopkins, John Stephens, and Thomas G. Bell
Ocean Sci., 13, 649–660, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-13-649-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-13-649-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This paper describes a near-surface ocean profiler (NSOP) that is deployed from a research vessel. The NSOP is used to sample the top 10 m of the ocean and pumps water back to the research ship for scientific analyses such as for trace gases. The precision in the depth of the seawater collection improves upon previous methods. The NSOP has been used to observe vertical gradients in the upper 5 m for temperature, carbon dioxide and dimethylsulfide.
Thomas G. Bell, Sebastian Landwehr, Scott D. Miller, Warren J. de Bruyn, Adrian H. Callaghan, Brian Scanlon, Brian Ward, Mingxi Yang, and Eric S. Saltzman
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 9019–9033, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-9019-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-9019-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The mechanisms that determine the air–sea exchange of gases such as carbon dioxide are not well understood. During a research cruise in the North Atlantic, we simultaneously measured the air–sea transfer of two gases with contrasting solubility over a range in wind and wave conditions. We compare the transfer of these gases to improve understanding of how bubbles from breaking waves may mediate air–sea gas fluxes.
Katie A. Read, Luis M. Neves, Lucy J. Carpenter, Alastair C. Lewis, Zoe L. Fleming, and John Kentisbeer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 5393–5406, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-5393-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-5393-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents 4 years of total gaseous mercury data obtained from measurements made at the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory, a subtropical site in the Atlantic Ocean. The data show a clear decreasing trend in the overall concentrations but in air from sub-Saharan Africa the trend is less significant and the data more variable. We attribute this result to an influence from artisanal small-scale gold mining in this region, a source for which there is uncertain information.
Mingxi Yang, John Prytherch, Elena Kozlova, Margaret J. Yelland, Deepulal Parenkat Mony, and Thomas G. Bell
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 5509–5522, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-5509-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-5509-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The exchange of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane between the ocean and the atmosphere is of critical importance for the earth's climate. Despite this, direct measurements of these fluxes are relatively scarce, especially for methane, in large part due to instrumental challenges. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of two of the latest carbon dioxide and methane flux analysers. We also compare their detection limits to predicted air–sea fluxes of these gases.
Mingxi Yang, Thomas G. Bell, Frances E. Hopkins, Vassilis Kitidis, Pierre W. Cazenave, Philip D. Nightingale, Margaret J. Yelland, Robin W. Pascal, John Prytherch, Ian M. Brooks, and Timothy J. Smyth
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 5745–5761, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-5745-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-5745-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Coastal seas are sources of methane in the atmosphere and can fluctuate from emitting to absorbing carbon dioxide. Direct air–sea transport measurements of these two greenhouse gases in near shore regions remain scarce. From a recently established coastal atmospheric station on the south-west coast of the UK, we observed that the oceanic absorption of carbon dioxide peaked during the phytoplankton bloom, while methane emission varied with the tidal cycle, likely due to an estuary influence.
Mingxi Yang, Thomas G. Bell, Frances E. Hopkins, and Timothy J. Smyth
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 4771–4783, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-4771-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-4771-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Exhausts from ships are an important source of air pollution in coastal regions. We observed a ~ 3 fold reduction in the level of sulfur dioxide (a principle pollutant) from the English Channel from 2014 to 2015 after the new International Maritime Organisation regulation on ship sulfur emission became law. Our estimated ship's fuel sulfur content shows a high degree of compliance. Dimethylsulfide from the marine biota becomes a relatively more important source of sulfur in coastal marine air.
M. Yang, R. Beale, P. Liss, M. Johnson, B. Blomquist, and P. Nightingale
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 7499–7517, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-7499-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-7499-2014, 2014
M. Yang, R. Beale, T. Smyth, and B. Blomquist
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 6165–6184, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-6165-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-6165-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Subject: Gases | Research Activity: Field Measurements | Altitude Range: Troposphere | Science Focus: Chemistry (chemical composition and reactions)
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Marine emissions and trade winds control the atmospheric nitrous oxide in the Galapagos Islands
Molecular and seasonal characteristics of organic vapors in urban Beijing: insights from Vocus-PTR measurements
The variations in volatile organic compounds based on the policy change for Omicron in the traffic hub of Zhengzhou
On the dynamics of ozone depletion events at Villum Research Station in the High Arctic
VOC sources and impacts at an urban Mediterranean area (Marseille – France)
Measurement report: Long-term measurements of surface ozone and trends in semi-natural sub-Saharan African ecosystems
Characterization of biogenic volatile organic compounds and their oxidation products in a stressed spruce-dominated forest close to a biogas power plant
Reactive chlorine-, sulfur-, and nitrogen-containing volatile organic compounds impact atmospheric chemistry in the megacity of Delhi during both clean and extremely polluted seasons
Analysis of the day-to-day variability of ozone vertical profiles in the lower troposphere during the 2022 Paris ACROSS campaign
Short lifetimes of organic nitrates in a sub-urban temperate forest indicate efficient assimilation of reactive nitrogen by the biosphere
Ozone deposition measurements over wheat fields in the North China Plain: variability and related factors of deposition flux and velocity
The impact of organic nitrates on summer ozone formation in Shanghai, China
Consistency evaluation of tropospheric ozone from ozonesonde and IAGOS (In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System) observations: vertical distribution, ozonesonde types, and station–airport distance
CO2 and CO temporal variability over Mexico City from ground-based total column and surface measurements
Investigating carbonyl compounds above the Amazon rainforest using a proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS) with NO+ chemical ionization
Measurement report: In-flight and ground-based measurements of nitrogen oxide emissions from latest-generation jet engines and 100 % sustainable aviation fuel
Mechanistic insights into chloroacetic acid production from atmospheric multiphase VOC-chlorine chemistry
Differences in key volatile organic compound species in ozone formation between their initial and measured concentrations
Measurement report: Sources, sinks, and lifetime of NOx in a suburban temperate forest at night
Measurement report: Urban ammonia and amines in Houston, Texas
Biomass-burning sources control ambient particulate matter, but traffic and industrial sources control volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and secondary-pollutant formation during extreme pollution events in Delhi
Multi-year observations of variable incomplete combustion in the New York megacity
Observations of the vertical distributions of summertime atmospheric pollutants in Nam Co: OH production and source analysis
Spatiotemporal variations in atmospheric CH4 concentrations and enhancements in northern China based on a comprehensive dataset: Ground-based observations, TROPOMI data, inventory data and inversions
Measurement report: Elevated atmospheric ammonia may promote particle pH and HONO formation – insights from the COVID-19 pandemic
Measurement report: Vertical and temporal variability in the near-surface ozone production rate and sensitivity in an urban area in the Pearl River Delta region, China
Elevated oxidized mercury in the free troposphere: analytical advances and application at a remote continental mountaintop site
Using observed urban NOx sinks to constrain VOC reactivity and the ozone and radical budget in the Seoul Metropolitan Area
Real-world emission characteristics of VOCs from typical cargo ships and their potential contributions to secondary organic aerosol and O3 under low-sulfur fuel policies
NO3 reactivity during a summer period in a temperate forest below and above the canopy
The role of oceanic ventilation and terrestrial outflow in atmospheric non-methane hydrocarbons over the Chinese marginal seas
Concentration and source changes of nitrous acid (HONO) during the COVID-19 lockdown in Beijing
Characteristics and sources of nonmethane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and O3–NOx–NMVOC relationships in Zhengzhou, China
Measurement report: TURBAN observation campaign combining street-level low-cost air quality sensors and meteorological profile measurements in Prague
Deciphering anthropogenic and biogenic contributions to selected non-methane volatile organic compound emissions in an urban area
Emission characteristics of reactive organic gases (ROGs) from industrial volatile chemical products (VCPs) in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China
Measurement report: Enhanced photochemical formation of formic and isocyanic acids in urban regions aloft – insights from tower-based online gradient measurements
Sources of organic gases and aerosol particles and their roles in nighttime particle growth at a rural forested site in southwest Germany
Surface snow bromide and nitrate at Eureka, Canada, in early spring and implications for polar boundary layer chemistry
Renzhi Hu, Guoxian Zhang, Haotian Cai, Jingyi Guo, Keding Lu, Xin Li, Shengrong Lou, Zhaofeng Tan, Changjin Hu, Pinhua Xie, and Wenqing Liu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3011–3028, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3011-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3011-2025, 2025
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A full suite of radical measurements (OH, HO2, RO2, and kOH) was established to accurately elucidate the limitations of oxidation in a chemically complex atmosphere. Sensitivity tests revealed that the incorporation of complex processes enabled a balance in both radical concentrations and coordinate ratios, effectively addressing the deficiency in the ozone generation mechanism. The full-chain radical detection bridged the gap between the photochemistry and the intensive oxidation level.
Shuwen Guo, Xuan Zheng, Xiao He, Lewei Zeng, Liqiang He, Xian Wu, Yifei Dai, Zihao Huang, Ting Chen, Shupei Xiao, Yan You, Sheng Xiang, Shaojun Zhang, Jingkun Jiang, and Ye Wu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2695–2705, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2695-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2695-2025, 2025
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We considered two potential influencing factors of heavy-duty diesel vehicle emissions that are rarely mentioned in the literature: cumulative mileage and ambient temperatures. The results suggest that prolonged use of heavy-duty diesel vehicles and low ambient temperatures leads to reduced engine combustion efficiency, which in turn increases tailpipe emissions significantly.
Junling Li, Chaofan Lian, Mingyuan Liu, Hao Zhang, Yongxin Yan, Yufei Song, Chun Chen, Jiaqi Wang, Haijie Zhang, Yanqin Ren, Yucong Guo, Weigang Wang, Yisheng Xu, Hong Li, Jian Gao, and Maofa Ge
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2551–2568, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2551-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2551-2025, 2025
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As a key source of hydroxyl (OH) radical, nitrous acid (HONO) has attracted much attention for its important role in the atmospheric oxidant capacity (AOC) increase. In this study, we made a comparison of the ambient levels, variation patterns, sources, and formation pathway in the warm season on the basis of continuous intensive observations at an urban site of Beijing. This work highlights the importance of HONO for the AOC in the warm season.
Xiao-Bing Li, Bin Yuan, Yibo Huangfu, Suxia Yang, Xin Song, Jipeng Qi, Xianjun He, Sihang Wang, Yubin Chen, Qing Yang, Yongxin Song, Yuwen Peng, Guiqian Tang, Jian Gao, Dasa Gu, and Min Shao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2459–2472, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2459-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2459-2025, 2025
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Online vertical gradient measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone, and NOx were conducted based on a 325 m tall tower in urban Beijing. Vertical changes in the concentrations, compositions, key drivers, and environmental impacts of VOCs were analyzed in this study. We find that VOC species display differentiated vertical variation patterns and distinct roles in contributing to photochemical ozone formation with increasing height in the urban planetary boundary layer.
Shigeyuki Ishidoya, Satoshi Sugawara, and Atsushi Okazaki
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1965–1987, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1965-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1965-2025, 2025
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The 18O/16O ratio of atmospheric oxygen, δatm(18O), is higher than that of ocean water due to isotopic effects during biospheric activities. This is known as the Dole–Morita effect, and its millennial-scale variations are recorded in ice cores. However, small variations of δatm(18O) in the present day have never been detected so far. This paper presents the first observations of diurnal, seasonal, and secular variations in δatm(18O) and applies them to evaluate oxygen, carbon, and water cycles.
Delaney B. Kilgour, Christopher M. Jernigan, Olga Garmash, Sneha Aggarwal, Shengqian Zhou, Claudia Mohr, Matt E. Salter, Joel A. Thornton, Jian Wang, Paul Zieger, and Timothy H. Bertram
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1931–1947, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1931-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1931-2025, 2025
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We report simultaneous measurements of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and hydroperoxymethyl thioformate (HPMTF) in the eastern North Atlantic. We use an observationally constrained box model to show that cloud loss is the dominant sink of HPMTF in this region over 6 weeks, resulting in large reductions in DMS-derived products that contribute to aerosol formation and growth. Our findings indicate that fast cloud processing of HPMTF must be included in global models to accurately capture the sulfur cycle.
Jiemeng Bao, Xin Zhang, Zhenhai Wu, Li Zhou, Jun Qian, Qinwen Tan, Fumo Yang, Junhui Chen, Yunfeng Li, Hefan Liu, Liqun Deng, and Hong Li
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1899–1916, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1899-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1899-2025, 2025
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We studied carbonyl compounds' role in ozone pollution in the Chengdu Plain Urban Agglomeration, China. During heavy pollution in August 2019, we measured carbonyls at nine sites and analyzed their impact. Areas with higher carbonyl levels, like Chengdu, had worse ozone pollution. While their abundance matters, chemical reactions with other pollutants are the main drivers. Our findings show regional cooperation is vital to reducing ozone pollution effectively.
Baoye Hu, Naihua Chen, Rui Li, Mingqiang Huang, Jinsheng Chen, Youwei Hong, Lingling Xu, Xiaolong Fan, Mengren Li, Lei Tong, Qiuping Zheng, and Yuxiang Yang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 905–921, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-905-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-905-2025, 2025
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Box modeling with the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM) was used to explore summertime peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) formation and its link to aerosol pollution under high-ozone conditions. The MCM model is effective in the study of PAN photochemical formation and performed better during the clean period than the haze period. Machine learning analysis identified ammonia, nitrate, and fine particulate matter as the top three factors contributing to simulation bias.
Xiansheng Liu, Xun Zhang, Marvin Dufresne, Tao Wang, Lijie Wu, Rosa Lara, Roger Seco, Marta Monge, Ana Maria Yáñez-Serrano, Marie Gohy, Paul Petit, Audrey Chevalier, Marie-Pierre Vagnot, Yann Fortier, Alexia Baudic, Véronique Ghersi, Grégory Gille, Ludovic Lanzi, Valérie Gros, Leïla Simon, Heidi Héllen, Stefan Reimann, Zoé Le Bras, Michelle Jessy Müller, David Beddows, Siqi Hou, Zongbo Shi, Roy M. Harrison, William Bloss, James Dernie, Stéphane Sauvage, Philip K. Hopke, Xiaoli Duan, Taicheng An, Alastair C. Lewis, James R. Hopkins, Eleni Liakakou, Nikolaos Mihalopoulos, Xiaohu Zhang, Andrés Alastuey, Xavier Querol, and Thérèse Salameh
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 625–638, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-625-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-625-2025, 2025
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This study examines BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) pollution in urban areas across seven European countries. Analyzing data from 22 monitoring sites, we found traffic and industrial activities significantly impact BTEX levels, with peaks during rush hours. The risk from BTEX exposure remains moderate, especially in high-traffic and industrial zones, highlighting the need for targeted air quality management to protect public health and improve urban air quality.
Yuening Li, Faqiang Zhan, Chubashini Shunthirasingham, Ying Duan Lei, Jenny Oh, Amina Ben Chaaben, Zhe Lu, Kelsey Lee, Frank A. P. C. Gobas, Hayley Hung, and Frank Wania
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 459–472, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-459-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-459-2025, 2025
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Organophosphate esters are important humanmade trace contaminants. Measuring them in the atmospheric gas phase, particles, precipitation, and surface water in Canada, we explore seasonal concentration variability, gas–particle partitioning, precipitation scavenging, and the air–water equilibrium. Whereas higher summer concentrations and efficient precipitation scavenging conform with expectations, the lack of a relationship between compound volatility and gas–particle partitioning is puzzling.
Fanhao Meng, Baobin Han, Min Qin, Wu Fang, Ke Tang, Dou Shao, Zhitang Liao, Jun Duan, Yan Feng, Yong Huang, Ting Ni, and Pinhua Xie
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 14191–14208, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-14191-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-14191-2024, 2024
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Comprehensive observations of HONO and NOx fluxes were conducted over paddy fields in the Huaihe River Basin. Consecutive peaks in HONO and NO fluxes suggest a potentially enhanced release of HONO and NO due to soil tillage, whereas waterlogged soil may inhibit microbial nitrification processes following irrigation. Notably, biological processes and light-driven NO2 reactions at the surface may serve as sources of HONO and influence the local HONO budget during rotary tillage.
Timur Cinay, Dickon Young, Nazaret Narváez Jimenez, Cristina Vintimilla-Palacios, Ariel Pila Alonso, Paul B. Krummel, William Vizuete, and Andrew R. Babbin
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3769, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3769, 2024
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We present the initial 15 months of nitrous oxide measurements from the Galapagos Emissions Monitoring Station. The observed variability in atmospheric mole fractions during this period can be linked to several factors: seasonal variations in trade wind speed and direction across the eastern Pacific, differences in the transport history of air masses sampled, and spatiotemporal heterogeneity in regional marine nitrous oxide emissions from coastal upwelling systems of Peru and Chile.
Zhaojin An, Rujing Yin, Xinyan Zhao, Xiaoxiao Li, Yuyang Li, Yi Yuan, Junchen Guo, Yiqi Zhao, Xue Li, Dandan Li, Yaowei Li, Dongbin Wang, Chao Yan, Kebin He, Douglas R. Worsnop, Frank N. Keutsch, and Jingkun Jiang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13793–13810, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13793-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13793-2024, 2024
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Online Vocus-PTR measurements show the compositions and seasonal variations in organic vapors in urban Beijing. With enhanced sensitivity and mass resolution, various species at a level of sub-parts per trillion (ppt) and organics with multiple oxygens (≥ 3) were observed. The fast photooxidation process in summer leads to an increase in both concentration and proportion of organics with multiple oxygens, while, in other seasons, the variations in them could be influenced by mixed sources.
Bowen Zhang, Dong Zhang, Zhe Dong, Xinshuai Song, Ruiqin Zhang, and Xiao Li
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13587–13601, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13587-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13587-2024, 2024
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To gain insight into the impact of changes due to epidemic control policies, we undertook continuous online monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at an urban site in Zhengzhou over a 2-month period. This study examines the characteristics of VOCs, their sources, and their temporal evolution. It also assesses the impact of the policy change on VOC pollution during the monitoring period, thus providing a basis for further research on VOC pollution and source control.
Jakob Boyd Pernov, Jens Liengaard Hjorth, Lise Lotte Sørensen, and Henrik Skov
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13603–13631, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13603-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13603-2024, 2024
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Arctic ozone depletion events (ODEs) occur every spring and have vast implications for the oxidizing capacity, radiative balance, and mercury oxidation. In this study, we analyze ozone, ODEs, and their connection to meteorological and air mass history variables through statistical analyses, back trajectories, and machine learning (ML) at Villum Research Station. ODEs are favorable under sunny, calm conditions with air masses arriving from northerly wind directions with sea ice contact.
Marvin Dufresne, Thérèse Salameh, Thierry Léonardis, Grégory Gille, Alexandre Armengaud, and Stéphane Sauvage
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3576, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3576, 2024
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This paper is about the eighteen-months measurement of Non-Methane Hydrocarbons (NMHC) at Marseille, were there was no measurement since early 2000 despite the impact of NMHC on air quality and climate. The traffic related sources are the first contributor to NMHC concentrations in Marseille and shipping strongly contribute to the formation of aerosols. Finally, the lockdown due to the Covid-19 had an impact on NMHC concentrations reaching a fifty percents decreasing for traffic-related sources.
Hagninou Elagnon Venance Donnou, Aristide Barthélémy Akpo, Money Ossohou, Claire Delon, Véronique Yoboué, Dungall Laouali, Marie Ouafo-Leumbe, Pieter Gideon Van Zyl, Ousmane Ndiaye, Eric Gardrat, Maria Dias-Alves, and Corinne Galy-Lacaux
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13151–13182, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13151-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13151-2024, 2024
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Ozone is a secondary air pollutant that is detrimental to human and plant health. A better understanding of its chemical evolution is a challenge for Africa, where it is still undersampled. Out of 14 sites examined (1995–2020), high levels of O3 are reported in southern Africa. The dominant chemical processes leading to O3 formation are identified. A decrease in O3 is observed at Katibougou (Mali) and Banizoumbou (Niger), and an increase is found at Zoétélé (Cameroon) and Skukuza (South Africa).
Junwei Song, Georgios I. Gkatzelis, Ralf Tillmann, Nicolas Brüggemann, Thomas Leisner, and Harald Saathoff
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13199–13217, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13199-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13199-2024, 2024
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Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) and organic aerosol (OA) particles were measured online in a stressed spruce-dominated forest. OA was mainly attributed to the monoterpene oxidation products. The mixing ratios of BVOCs were higher than the values previously measured in other temperate forests. The results demonstrate that BVOCs are influenced not only by meteorology and biogenic emissions but also by local anthropogenic emissions and subsequent chemical transformation processes.
Sachin Mishra, Vinayak Sinha, Haseeb Hakkim, Arpit Awasthi, Sachin D. Ghude, Vijay Kumar Soni, Narendra Nigam, Baerbel Sinha, and Madhavan N. Rajeevan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13129–13150, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13129-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13129-2024, 2024
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We quantified 111 gases using mass spectrometry to understand how seasonal and emission changes lead from clean air in the monsoon season to extremely polluted air in the post-monsoon season in Delhi. Averaged total mass concentrations (260 µg m-3) were > 4 times in polluted periods, driven by biomass burning emissions and reduced atmospheric ventilation. Reactive gaseous nitrogen, chlorine, and sulfur compounds hitherto unreported from such a polluted environment were discovered.
Gérard Ancellet, Camille Viatte, Anne Boynard, François Ravetta, Jacques Pelon, Cristelle Cailteau-Fischbach, Pascal Genau, Julie Capo, Axel Roy, and Philippe Nédélec
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12963–12983, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12963-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12963-2024, 2024
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Characterization of ozone pollution in urban areas benefited from a measurement campaign in summer 2022 in the Paris region. The analysis is based on 21 d of lidar and aircraft observations. The main objective is an analysis of the sensitivity of ozone pollution to the micrometeorological processes in the urban atmospheric boundary layer and the transport of regional pollution. The paper also discusses to what extent satellite observations can track observed ozone plumes.
Simone T. Andersen, Rolf Sander, Patrick Dewald, Laura Wüst, Tobias Seubert, Gunther N. T. E. Türk, Jan Schuladen, Max R. McGillen, Chaoyang Xue, Abdelwahid Mellouki, Alexandre Kukui, Vincent Michoud, Manuela Cirtog, Mathieu Cazaunau, Astrid Bauville, Hichem Bouzidi, Paola Formenti, Cyrielle Denjean, Jean-Claude Etienne, Olivier Garrouste, Christopher Cantrell, Jos Lelieveld, and John N. Crowley
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3437, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3437, 2024
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Measurements and modelling of reactive nitrogen gases observed in a suburban temperate forest in Rambouillet, France circa 50 km southwest of Paris in 2022 indicate that the biosphere rapidly scavenges organic nitrates of mixed biogenic and anthropogenic origin, resulting in short lifetimes for e.g. alkyl nitrates and peroxy nitrates.
Xiaoyi Zhang, Wanyun Xu, Weili Lin, Gen Zhang, Jinjian Geng, Li Zhou, Huarong Zhao, Sanxue Ren, Guangsheng Zhou, Jianmin Chen, and Xiaobin Xu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12323–12340, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12323-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12323-2024, 2024
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Ozone (O3) deposition is a key process that removes surface O3, affecting air quality, ecosystems and climate change. We conducted O3 deposition measurement over a wheat canopy using a newly relaxed eddy accumulation flux system. Large variabilities in O3 deposition were detected, mainly determined by crop growth and modulated by various environmental factors. More O3 deposition observations over different surfaces are needed for exploring deposition mechanisms and model optimization.
Chunmeng Li, Xiaorui Chen, Haichao Wang, Tianyu Zhai, Xuefei Ma, Xinping Yang, Shiyi Chen, Min Zhou, Shengrong Lou, Xin Li, Limin Zeng, and Keding Lu
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3337, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3337, 2024
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This study reports an observation of organic nitrate (including total peroxy nitrates and total alkyl nitrates) in Shanghai, China during the summer of 2021, by a homemade thermal dissociation cavity-enhanced absorption spectrometer (TD-CEAS, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 4033–4051, 2021). The distribution of organic nitrates and their effects on local ozone production are analyzed based on the field observation in conjunction with model simulation.
Honglei Wang, David W. Tarasick, Jane Liu, Herman G. J. Smit, Roeland Van Malderen, Lijuan Shen, Romain Blot, and Tianliang Zhao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11927–11942, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11927-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11927-2024, 2024
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In this study, we identify 23 suitable pairs of sites from World Ozone and Ultraviolet Radiation Data Centre (WOUDC) and In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System (IAGOS) datasets (1995 to 2021), compare the average vertical distributions of tropospheric O3 from ozonesonde and aircraft measurements, and analyze the differences based on ozonesonde type and station–airport distance.
Noémie Taquet, Wolfgang Stremme, María Eugenia González del Castillo, Victor Almanza, Alejandro Bezanilla, Olivier Laurent, Carlos Alberti, Frank Hase, Michel Ramonet, Thomas Lauvaux, Ke Che, and Michel Grutter
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11823–11848, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11823-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11823-2024, 2024
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We characterize the variability in CO and CO2 emissions over Mexico City from long-term time-resolved Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy solar absorption and surface measurements from 2013 to 2021. Using the average intraday CO growth rate from total columns, the average CO / CO2 ratio and TROPOMI data, we estimate the interannual variability in the CO and CO2 anthropogenic emissions of Mexico City, highlighting the effect of an unprecedented drop in activity due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Akima Ringsdorf, Achim Edtbauer, Bruna Holanda, Christopher Poehlker, Marta O. Sá, Alessandro Araújo, Jürgen Kesselmeier, Jos Lelieveld, and Jonathan Williams
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11883–11910, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11883-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11883-2024, 2024
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We show the average height distribution of separately observed aldehydes and ketones over a day and discuss their rainforest-specific sources and sinks as well as their seasonal changes above the Amazon. Ketones have much longer atmospheric lifetimes than aldehydes and thus different implications for atmospheric chemistry. However, they are commonly observed together, which we overcome by measuring with a NO+ chemical ionization mass spectrometer for the first time in the Amazon rainforest.
Theresa Harlass, Rebecca Dischl, Stefan Kaufmann, Raphael Märkl, Daniel Sauer, Monika Scheibe, Paul Stock, Tiziana Bräuer, Andreas Dörnbrack, Anke Roiger, Hans Schlager, Ulrich Schumann, Magdalena Pühl, Tobias Schripp, Tobias Grein, Linda Bondorf, Charles Renard, Maxime Gauthier, Mark Johnson, Darren Luff, Paul Madden, Peter Swann, Denise Ahrens, Reetu Sallinen, and Christiane Voigt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11807–11822, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11807-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11807-2024, 2024
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Emissions from aircraft have a direct impact on our climate. Here, we present airborne and ground-based measurement data of nitrogen oxides that were collected in the exhaust of an Airbus aircraft. We study the impact of burning fossil and sustainable aviation fuel on nitrogen oxide emissions at different engine settings related to combustor temperature, pressure and fuel flow. Further, we compare observations with engine emission models.
Mingxue Li, Men Xia, Chunshui Lin, Yifan Jiang, Weihang Sun, Yurun Wang, Yingnan Zhang, Maoxia He, and Tao Wang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3137, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3137, 2024
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Our field campaigns observed a strong diel pattern of chloroacetic acid as well as a strong correlation between its level and those of reactive chlorine species at a coastal site. Using quantum chemical calculations and box model simulation with updated MCM, we found that the formation pathway of chloroacetic acid involved multiphase processes. Our study deepens the understanding of atmospheric VOC-Cl chemistry and highlights the crucial role of multiphase reactions in atmospheric chemistry.
Xudong Zheng and Shaodong Xie
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2568, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2568, 2024
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To reduce uncertainties in identifying key volatile organic compounds (VOCs) affecting ozone (O3) formation, this study focused on identifying key species based on initial VOC concentrations. Using reaction rates and observed VOCs concentrations, we calculated initial VOCs concentrations during the day and the night. Initial concentrations of alkenes and aromatics were higher than observed ones. Conversely, initial oxygenated VOC concentrations were lower than observed concentrations.
Simone T. Andersen, Max R. McGillen, Chaoyang Xue, Tobias Seubert, Patrick Dewald, Gunther N. T. E. Türk, Jan Schuladen, Cyrielle Denjean, Jean-Claude Etienne, Olivier Garrouste, Marina Jamar, Sergio Harb, Manuela Cirtog, Vincent Michoud, Mathieu Cazaunau, Antonin Bergé, Christopher Cantrell, Sebastien Dusanter, Bénédicte Picquet-Varrault, Alexandre Kukui, Abdelwahid Mellouki, Lucy J. Carpenter, Jos Lelieveld, and John N. Crowley
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11603–11618, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11603-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11603-2024, 2024
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Using measurements of various trace gases in a suburban forest near Paris in the summer of 2022, we were able to gain insight into the sources and sinks of NOx (NO+NO2) with a special focus on their nighttime chemical and physical loss processes. NO was observed as a result of nighttime soil emissions when O3 levels were strongly depleted by deposition. NO oxidation products were not observed at night, indicating that soil and/or foliar surfaces are an efficient sink of reactive N.
Lee Tiszenkel, James H. Flynn, and Shan-Hu Lee
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11351–11363, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11351-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11351-2024, 2024
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Ammonia and amines are important ingredients for aerosol formation in urban environments, but the measurements of these compounds are extremely challenging. Our observations show that urban ammonia and amines in Houston are emitted from urban sources, and diurnal variations in their concentrations are likely governed by gas-to-particle conversion and emissions.
Arpit Awasthi, Baerbel Sinha, Haseeb Hakkim, Sachin Mishra, Varkrishna Mummidivarapu, Gurmanjot Singh, Sachin D. Ghude, Vijay Kumar Soni, Narendra Nigam, Vinayak Sinha, and Madhavan N. Rajeevan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 10279–10304, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10279-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10279-2024, 2024
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We use 111 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PM10, and PM2.5 in a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model to resolve 11 pollution sources validated with chemical fingerprints. Crop residue burning and heating account for ~ 50 % of the PM, while traffic and industrial emissions dominate the gas-phase VOC burden and formation potential of secondary organic aerosols (> 60 %). Non-tailpipe emissions from compressed-natural-gas-fuelled commercial vehicles dominate the transport sector's PM burden.
Luke D. Schiferl, Cong Cao, Bronte Dalton, Andrew Hallward-Driemeier, Ricardo Toledo-Crow, and Róisín Commane
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 10129–10142, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10129-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10129-2024, 2024
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Carbon monoxide (CO) is an air pollutant and an important indicator of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels in cities. Using 4 years of winter and spring observations in New York City, we found that both the magnitude and variability of CO from the metropolitan area are greater than expected. Transportation emissions cannot explain the missing and variable CO, which points to energy from buildings as a likely underappreciated source of urban air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Chengzhi Xing, Cheng Liu, Chunxiang Ye, Jingkai Xue, Hongyu Wu, Xiangguang Ji, Jinping Ou, and Qihou Hu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 10093–10112, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10093-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10093-2024, 2024
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We identified the contributions of ozone (O3) and nitrous acid (HONO) to the production rates of hydroxide (OH) in vertical space on the Tibetan Plateau (TP). A new insight was offered: the contributions of HONO and O3 to the production rates of OH on the TP are even greater than in lower-altitudes areas. This study enriches the understanding of vertical distribution of atmospheric components and explains the strong atmospheric oxidation capacity (AOC) on the TP.
Pengfei Han, Ning Zeng, Bo Yao, Wen Zhang, Weijun Quan, Pucai Wang, Ting Wang, Minqiang Zhou, Qixiang Cai, Yuzhong Zhang, Ruosi Liang, Wanqi Sun, and Shengxiang Liu
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2162, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2162, 2024
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Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas. Northern China contributes a large proportion of CH4 emissions yet large observation gaps are existed. Here we compiled a comprehensive dataset which is publicly available including ground-based, satellite-based, inventory and modeling results, to show the CH4 concentrations, enhancements and spatial-temporal variations. The data can benefit the research community, and policy makers for future observations, atmospheric inversions and policy-making.
Xinyuan Zhang, Lingling Wang, Nan Wang, Shuangliang Ma, Shenbo Wang, Ruiqin Zhang, Dong Zhang, Mingkai Wang, and Hongyu Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9885–9898, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9885-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9885-2024, 2024
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This study highlights the importance of the redox reaction of NO2 with SO2 based on actual atmospheric observations. The particle pH in future China is expected to rise steadily. Consequently, this reaction could become a significant source of HONO in China. Therefore, it is crucial to coordinate the control of SO2, NOx, and NH3 emissions to avoid a rapid increase in the particle pH.
Jun Zhou, Chunsheng Zhang, Aiming Liu, Bin Yuan, Yan Wang, Wenjie Wang, Jie-Ping Zhou, Yixin Hao, Xiao-Bing Li, Xianjun He, Xin Song, Yubin Chen, Suxia Yang, Shuchun Yang, Yanfeng Wu, Bin Jiang, Shan Huang, Junwen Liu, Yuwen Peng, Jipeng Qi, Minhui Deng, Bowen Zhong, Yibo Huangfu, and Min Shao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9805–9826, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9805-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9805-2024, 2024
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In-depth understanding of the near-ground vertical variability in photochemical ozone (O3) formation is crucial for mitigating O3 pollution. Utilizing a self-built vertical observation system, a direct net photochemical O3 production rate detection system, and an observation-based model, we diagnosed the vertical distributions and formation mechanism of net photochemical O3 production rates and sensitivity in the Pearl River Delta region, one of the most O3-polluted areas in China.
Eleanor J. Derry, Tyler R. Elgiar, Taylor Y. Wilmot, Nicholas W. Hoch, Noah S. Hirshorn, Peter Weiss-Penzias, Christopher F. Lee, John C. Lin, A. Gannet Hallar, Rainer Volkamer, Seth N. Lyman, and Lynne E. Gratz
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9615–9643, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9615-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9615-2024, 2024
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Mercury (Hg) is a globally distributed neurotoxic pollutant. Atmospheric deposition is the main source of Hg in ecosystems. However, measurement biases hinder understanding of the origins and abundance of the more bioavailable oxidized form. We used an improved, calibrated measurement system to study air mass composition and transport of atmospheric Hg at a remote mountaintop site in the central US. Oxidized Hg originated upwind in the low to middle free troposphere under clean, dry conditions.
Benjamin A. Nault, Katherine R. Travis, James H. Crawford, Donald R. Blake, Pedro Campuzano-Jost, Ronald C. Cohen, Joshua P. DiGangi, Glenn S. Diskin, Samuel R. Hall, L. Gregory Huey, Jose L. Jimenez, Kyung-Eun Min, Young Ro Lee, Isobel J. Simpson, Kirk Ullmann, and Armin Wisthaler
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9573–9595, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9573-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9573-2024, 2024
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Ozone (O3) is a pollutant formed from the reactions of gases emitted from various sources. In urban areas, the density of human activities can increase the O3 formation rate (P(O3)), thus impacting air quality and health. Observations collected over Seoul, South Korea, are used to constrain P(O3). A high local P(O3) was found; however, local P(O3) was partly reduced due to compounds typically ignored. These observations also provide constraints for unmeasured compounds that will impact P(O3).
Fan Zhang, Binyu Xiao, Zeyu Liu, Yan Zhang, Chongguo Tian, Rui Li, Can Wu, Yali Lei, Si Zhang, Xinyi Wan, Yubao Chen, Yong Han, Min Cui, Cheng Huang, Hongli Wang, Yingjun Chen, and Gehui Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8999–9017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8999-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8999-2024, 2024
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Mandatory use of low-sulfur fuel due to global sulfur limit regulations means large uncertainties in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. On-board tests of VOCs from nine cargo ships in China were carried out. Results showed that switching from heavy-fuel oil to diesel increased emission factor VOCs by 48 % on average, enhancing O3 and the secondary organic aerosol formation potential. Thus, implementing a global ultra-low-sulfur oil policy needs to be optimized in the near future.
Patrick Dewald, Tobias Seubert, Simone T. Andersen, Gunther N. T. E. Türk, Jan Schuladen, Max R. McGillen, Cyrielle Denjean, Jean-Claude Etienne, Olivier Garrouste, Marina Jamar, Sergio Harb, Manuela Cirtog, Vincent Michoud, Mathieu Cazaunau, Antonin Bergé, Christopher Cantrell, Sebastien Dusanter, Bénédicte Picquet-Varrault, Alexandre Kukui, Chaoyang Xue, Abdelwahid Mellouki, Jos Lelieveld, and John N. Crowley
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8983–8997, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8983-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8983-2024, 2024
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In the scope of a field campaign in a suburban forest near Paris in the summer of 2022, we measured the reactivity of the nitrate radical NO3 towards biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs; e.g. monoterpenes) mainly below but also above the canopy. NO3 reactivity was the highest during nights with strong temperature inversions and decreased strongly with height. Reactions with BVOCs were the main removal process of NO3 throughout the diel cycle below the canopy.
Jian Wang, Lei Xue, Qianyao Ma, Feng Xu, Gaobin Xu, Shibo Yan, Jiawei Zhang, Jianlong Li, Honghai Zhang, Guiling Zhang, and Zhaohui Chen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8721–8736, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8721-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8721-2024, 2024
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This study investigated the distribution and sources of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) in the lower atmosphere over the marginal seas of China. NMHCs, a subset of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), play a crucial role in atmospheric chemistry. Derived from systematic atmospheric sampling in coastal cities and marginal sea regions, this study offers valuable insights into the interaction between land and sea in shaping offshore atmospheric NMHCs.
Yusheng Zhang, Feixue Zheng, Zemin Feng, Chaofan Lian, Weigang Wang, Xiaolong Fan, Wei Ma, Zhuohui Lin, Chang Li, Gen Zhang, Chao Yan, Ying Zhang, Veli-Matti Kerminen, Federico Bianch, Tuukka Petäjä, Juha Kangasluoma, Markku Kulmala, and Yongchun Liu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8569–8587, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8569-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8569-2024, 2024
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The nitrous acid (HONO) budget was validated during a COVID-19 lockdown event. The main conclusions are (1) HONO concentrations showed a significant decrease from 0.97 to 0.53 ppb during lockdown; (2) vehicle emissions accounted for 53 % of nighttime sources, with the heterogeneous conversion of NO2 on ground surfaces more important than aerosol; and (3) the dominant daytime source shifted from the homogenous reaction between NO and OH (51 %) to nitrate photolysis (53 %) during lockdown.
Dong Zhang, Xiao Li, Minghao Yuan, Yifei Xu, Qixiang Xu, Fangcheng Su, Shenbo Wang, and Ruiqin Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8549–8567, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8549-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8549-2024, 2024
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The increasing concentration of O3 precursors and unfavorable meteorological conditions are key factors in the formation of O3 pollution in Zhengzhou. Vehicular exhausts (28 %), solvent usage (27 %), and industrial production (22 %) are identified as the main sources of NMVOCs. Moreover, O3 formation in Zhengzhou is found to be in an anthropogenic volatile organic compound (AVOC)-limited regime. Thus, to reduce O3 formation, a minimum AVOCs / NOx reduction ratio ≥ 3 : 1 is recommended.
Petra Bauerová, Josef Keder, Adriana Šindelářová, Ondřej Vlček, William Patiño, Jaroslav Resler, Pavel Krč, Jan Geletič, Hynek Řezníček, Martin Bureš, Kryštof Eben, Michal Belda, Jelena Radović, Vladimír Fuka, Radek Jareš, and Igor Ezau
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1222, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1222, 2024
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We implemented an observation campaign focused on street-level air quality and vertical meteorological profile measurement in Prague using low-cost sensors and remote sensing devices. Low-cost sensors have undergone long-term field testing, own data correction and drift evaluation procedures. A high level of NO2 pollution was confirmed due to the traffic load in streets, peaks of aerosol pollution appeared more under inversion conditions. The data will be further used for PALM model validation.
Arianna Peron, Martin Graus, Marcus Striednig, Christian Lamprecht, Georg Wohlfahrt, and Thomas Karl
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 7063–7083, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7063-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7063-2024, 2024
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The anthropogenic fraction of non-methane volatile organic compound (NMVOC) emissions associated with biogenic sources (e.g., terpenes) is investigated based on eddy covariance observations. The anthropogenic fraction of terpene emissions is strongly dependent on season. When analyzing volatile chemical product (VCP) emissions in urban environments, we caution that observations from short-term campaigns might over-/underestimate their significance depending on local and seasonal circumstances.
Sihang Wang, Bin Yuan, Xianjun He, Ru Cui, Xin Song, Yubin Chen, Caihong Wu, Chaomin Wang, Yibo Huangfu, Xiao-Bing Li, Boguang Wang, and Min Shao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 7101–7121, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7101-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7101-2024, 2024
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Emissions of reactive organic gases from industrial volatile chemical product sources are measured. There are large differences among these industrial sources. We show that oxygenated species account for significant contributions to reactive organic gas emissions, especially for industrial sources utilizing water-borne chemicals.
Qing Yang, Xiao-Bing Li, Bin Yuan, Xiaoxiao Zhang, Yibo Huangfu, Lei Yang, Xianjun He, Jipeng Qi, and Min Shao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 6865–6882, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6865-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6865-2024, 2024
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Online vertical gradient measurements of formic and isocyanic acids were made based on a 320 m tower in a megacity. Vertical variations and sources of the two acids were analyzed in this study. We find that formic and isocyanic acids exhibited positive vertical gradients and were mainly contributed by photochemical formations. The formation of formic and isocyanic acids was also significantly enhanced in urban regions aloft.
Junwei Song, Harald Saathoff, Feng Jiang, Linyu Gao, Hengheng Zhang, and Thomas Leisner
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 6699–6717, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6699-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6699-2024, 2024
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This study presents concurrent online measurements of organic gas and particles (VOCs and OA) at a forested site in summer. Both VOCs and OA were largely contributed by oxygenated organic compounds. Semi-volatile oxygenated OA and organic nitrate formed from monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes contributed significantly to nighttime particle growth. The results help us to understand the causes of nighttime particle growth regularly observed in summer in central European rural forested environments.
Xin Yang, Kimberly Strong, Alison S. Criscitiello, Marta Santos-Garcia, Kristof Bognar, Xiaoyi Zhao, Pierre Fogal, Kaley A. Walker, Sara M. Morris, and Peter Effertz
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5863–5886, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5863-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5863-2024, 2024
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This study uses snow samples collected from a Canadian high Arctic site, Eureka, to demonstrate that surface snow in early spring is a net sink of atmospheric bromine and nitrogen. Surface snow bromide and nitrate are significantly correlated, indicating the oxidation of reactive nitrogen is accelerated by reactive bromine. In addition, we show evidence that snow photochemical release of reactive bromine is very weak, and its emission flux is much smaller than the deposition flux of bromide.
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Short summary
The atmosphere contains thousands of different organic compounds but the quantification of their total burden has been a technical challenge. This hinders our understanding in atmospheric chemistry, air pollution, and global carbon cycling. Here we present a novel and robust method to measure total atmospheric organic carbon. By comparing the total organic carbon concentration in marine air to the sum of speciated organic measurements, we aim to estimate the pool of undetected organic species.
The atmosphere contains thousands of different organic compounds but the quantification of their...
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