Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2023-40
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2023-40
27 Jan 2023
 | 27 Jan 2023
Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal ACP.

Vertical profiles of volatile organic compounds and fine particles in atmospheric air by using aerial drone with miniaturized samplers and portable devices

Eka Dian Pusfitasari, Jose Ruiz-Jimenez, Aleksi Tiusanen, Markus Suuronen, Jesse Haataja, Juha Kangasluoma, Krista Luoma, Tuukka Petäjä, Matti Jussila, Kari Hartonen, and Marja-Liisa Riekkola

Abstract. The increase of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions released into the atmosphere is one of the main threats to human health and climate. VOCs can adversely affect human life through their contribution to air pollution directly and indirectly by reacting via several mechanisms in the air to form secondary organic aerosols. In this study, aerial drone equipped with miniaturized air sampling systems including up to four solid-phase microextraction (SPME) Arrows and four in-tube extraction (ITEX) samplers for the collection of VOCs, along with portable devices for the real-time measurement of black carbon (BC) and total particle numbers at high altitudes was exploited. In total, 135 air samples were collected under optimal sampling conditions in October 2021 at the boreal forest SMEAR II Station, Finland. A total of 48 different VOCs, including nitrogen-containing compounds, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, organic acids, and hydrocarbons, were detected at different altitudes from 50 to 400 m above ground level with the concentrations up to 6898 ng m-3 in gas phase and 8613 ng m-3 in particle phase. Clear differences in VOCs distribution were seen in samples collected from different altitudes, depending on the VOC sources. It was also possible to collect aerosol particles by the filter accessory attached on the ITEX sampling system, and five dicarboxylic acids were quantified with the concentrations of 0.43 to 10.9 µg m-3. The BC and total particle number measurements provided similar diurnal patterns, indicating their correlation. For spatial distribution, surprisingly the BC concentrations were increased at higher altitudes being 2278 ng m-3 at 100 m and 3909 ng m-3 at 400 m. The measurements onboard the drone provided insights into horizontal and vertical variability in BC and aerosol number concentrations above the boreal forest.

Eka Dian Pusfitasari et al.

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on acp-2023-40', Anonymous Referee #1, 18 Feb 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on acp-2023-40', Anonymous Referee #2, 08 Mar 2023

Eka Dian Pusfitasari et al.

Eka Dian Pusfitasari et al.

Viewed

Total article views: 457 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
315 130 12 457 40 3 8
  • HTML: 315
  • PDF: 130
  • XML: 12
  • Total: 457
  • Supplement: 40
  • BibTeX: 3
  • EndNote: 8
Views and downloads (calculated since 27 Jan 2023)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 27 Jan 2023)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 469 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 469 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 27 Mar 2023
Download
Short summary
A miniaturized air sampling-drone system was successfully applied for the collection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and for the measurement of black carbon (BC) and total particle number concentrations in atmospheric air. Here we report, for the first time, the vertical profiles of BC and aerosol number concentrations above the boreal forest in Hyytiälä (Finland) at high altitudes close to the boundary layer in autumn 2021. VOC composition with its distribution was studied as well.
Altmetrics