Articles | Volume 25, issue 14
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8147-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8147-2025
Research article
 | 
30 Jul 2025
Research article |  | 30 Jul 2025

Observation and modeling of atmospheric OH and HO2 radicals at a subtropical rural site and implications for secondary pollutants

Zhouxing Zou, Tianshu Chen, Qianjie Chen, Weihang Sun, Shichun Han, Zhuoyue Ren, Xinyi Li, Wei Song, Aoqi Ge, Qi Wang, Xiao Tian, Chenglei Pei, Xinming Wang, Yanli Zhang, and Tao Wang

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Cited articles

Berresheim, H., Elste, T., Tremmel, H. G., Allen, A. G., Hansson, H.-C., Rosman, K., Dal Maso, M., Mäkelä, J. M., Kulmala, M., and O'Dowd, C. D.: Gas-aerosol relationships of H2SO4, MSA, and OH: Observations in the coastal marine boundary layer at Mace Head, Ireland, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 107, PAR 5-1–PAR 5-12, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JD000229, 2002. 
Carslaw, N., Creasey, D. J., Heard, D. E., Lewis, A. C., McQuaid, J. B., Pilling, M. J., Monks, P. S., Bandy, B. J., and Penkett, S. A.: Modeling OH, HO2, and RO2 radicals in the marine boundary layer: 1. Model construction and comparison with field measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 104, 30241–30255, https://doi.org/10.1029/1999JD900783, 1999. 
Chen, Q., Xia, M., Peng, X., Yu, C., Sun, P., Li, Y., Liu, Y., Xu, Z., Xu, Z., Wu, R., Nie, W., Ding, A., Zhao, Y., and Wang, T.: Large Daytime Molecular Chlorine Missing Source at a Suburban Site in East China, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 127, e2021JD035796, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JD035796, 2022. 
Edwards, G. D., Cantrell, C. A., Stephens, S., Hill, B., Goyea, O., Shetter, R. E., Mauldin, R. L., Kosciuch, E., Tanner, D. J., and Eisele, F. L.: Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer Instrument for the Measurement of Tropospheric HO2 and RO2, Anal. Chem., 75, 5317–5327, https://doi.org/10.1021/ac034402b, 2003. 
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Short summary
We measured ambient OH and HO2* (HO2 and contribution from RO2, organic peroxyl radicals) concentrations at a subtropical rural site and compared our observations with model results. During warm periods, the model overestimated concentrations of OH and HO2, leading to overestimation of ozone and nitric acid production. Our findings highlight the need to better understand how OH and HO2 are formed and removed, which is important for accurate air quality and climate predictions.
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