Journal Article

FZJ-2019-01469

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Secondary organic aerosol reduced by mixture of atmospheric vapours

McFiggans, G. ; Mentel, T. F. (Corresponding author)FZJ* ; Wildt, J. ; Pullinen, I. ; Kang, S.FZJ* ; Kleist, E.FZJ* ; Schmitt, S.FZJ* ; Springer, M. ; Tillmann, R.FZJ* ; Wu, C.FZJ* ; Zhao, D.FZJ* ; Hallquist, M. ; Faxon, C. ; Le Breton, M. ; Hallquist, Å. M. ; Simpson, D. ; Bergström, R. ; Jenkin, M. E. ; Ehn, M. ; Thornton, J. A. ; Alfarra, M. R. ; Bannan, T. J. ; Percival, C. J. ; Priestley, M. ; Topping, D. ; Kiendler-Scharr, A.FZJ*

2019
Nature Publ. Group78092 London [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1038/s41586-018-0871-y

Abstract: Secondary organic aerosol contributes to the atmospheric particle burden with implications for air quality and climate. Biogenic volatile organic compounds such as terpenoids emitted from plants are important secondary organic aerosol precursors with isoprene dominating the emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds globally. However, the particle mass from isoprene oxidation is generally modest compared to that of other terpenoids. Here we show that isoprene, carbon monoxide and methane can each suppress the instantaneous mass and the overall mass yield derived from monoterpenes in mixtures of atmospheric vapours. We find that isoprene ‘scavenges’ hydroxyl radicals, preventing their reaction with monoterpenes, and the resulting isoprene peroxy radicals scavenge highly oxygenated monoterpene products. These effects reduce the yield of low-volatility products that would otherwise form secondary organic aerosol. Global model calculations indicate that oxidant and product scavenging can operate effectively in the real atmosphere. Thus highly reactive compounds (such as isoprene) that produce a modest amount of aerosol are not necessarily net producers of secondary organic particle mass and their oxidation in mixtures of atmospheric vapours can suppress both particle number and mass of secondary organic aerosol. We suggest that formation mechanisms of secondary organic aerosol in the atmosphere need to be considered more realistically, accounting for mechanistic interactions between the products of oxidizing precursor molecules (as is recognized to be necessary when modelling ozone production).

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Troposphäre (IEK-8)
2. Pflanzenwissenschaften (IBG-2)

Research Program(s):

1. 582 - Plant Science (POF3-582) (POF3-582)

Appears in the scientific report 2019

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; IF >= 40 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection ; Zoological Record

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