Articles | Volume 21, issue 19
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14983-2021
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14983-2021
ACP Letters
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15 Oct 2021
ACP Letters | Highlight paper |  | 15 Oct 2021

How alkaline compounds control atmospheric aerosol particle acidity

Vlassis A. Karydis, Alexandra P. Tsimpidi, Andrea Pozzer, and Jos Lelieveld

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Short summary
Aerosol particle pH is well-buffered by alkaline compounds, notably NH3 and crustal elements. NH3 is found to supply remarkable buffering capacity on a global scale, from the polluted continents to the remote oceans. Potential future changes in agricultural NH3 must be accompanied by strong reductions of SO2 and NOx to avoid particles becoming highly acidic, with implications for human health (aerosol toxicity), ecosystems (acid deposition), clouds, and climate (aerosol hygroscopicity).
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