J. Stutz

Iodine oxide in the marine boundary layer

A striking example of the influence of halogen chemistry on tropospheric ozone levels is the episodic destruction of boundary-layer ozone during the Arctic sunrise by reactive halogen species, . We detected iodine oxide in the boundary layer at Mace Head, Ireland (53°20′ N, 9°54′ W) during May 1997, which indicates that iodine chemistry is occurring in the troposphere.

Numerical analysis and estimation of the statistical error of differential optical absorption spectroscopy measurements with least-squares methods

Differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) has become a widely used method to measure trace gases in the atmosphere. Their concentration is retrieved by a numerical analysis of the atmospheric absorption spectra, which often are a combination of overlapping absorption structures of several trace gases. A new analysis procedure was developed, modeling atmospheric spectra with the absorption structures of the individual trace gases, to determine their concentrations. The procedure also corrects differences in the wavelength-pixel mapping of these spectra. A new method to estimate the error of the concentrations considers the uncertainty of this correction and the influence of random residual structures in the absorption spectra.

Chemistry and oxidation capacity of the nitrate radical in the continental boundary layer near Berlin

The nitrate radical is in many situations the most important nighttime oxidizing species, removing, for example, hydrocarbons, which would otherwise be available to daytime ozone formation. In spite of its importance in the night and probably also under certain conditions during the day, our understanding of the NO3 chemistry and its impact on the oxidation capacity of the atmosphere is still incomplete. Here we present measurements of NO3 by differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) and a number of other atmospheric trace gases performed during the Berliner Ozonexperiment (BERLIOZ) campaign at Pabstthum near Berlin, Germany, to quantify the contribution of NO3 to the atmospheric oxidation rate of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NOx removal. The measurements show that only two NO3 sinks were of importance: (1) About 50–30% (depending on the distance (0.1–3 km) to a near forest) of the NO3 was lost due to reaction with biogenic hydrocarbons. (2) The major part of the remaining loss probably can be attributed to the indirect loss via the reaction of N2O5 on aerosol surfaces. Assuming that heterogeneous hydrolysis of N2O5 is occurring, the nonphotolytical conversion of NOx to HNO3 via N2O5 was found to be comparable with daytime conversion by the reaction of OH with NO2. In combination with measurements of the OH concentration, it was possible for the first time to derive a relative contribution of 28% (24-hour average) for the NO3-initiated oxidation to the total VOC degradation.

Heterogeneous Atmospheric Chemistry, Ambient Measurements, and Model Calculations of N2O5: A Review

For several decades, dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) has been recognized as an important reactive intermediate in the atmospheric chemistry of nitrogen oxides and nitrate aerosol, especially during nighttime. However, due to the lack of ambient observations of N2O5, the nocturnal nitrogen oxide chemistry could not be quantified until recent years. The objective of the present article is to assess the current state-of-the-art knowledge of N2O5 dynamics within the tropospheric aerosol. An up-to-date summary of N2O5 chemistry and major loss mechanisms are provided. Furthermore, techniques for measuring ambient N2O5 and an overview of typical N2O5 levels in the troposphere are described. In addition, model representations of N2O5 chemistry are reviewed along with key features of N2O5 vertical profiles based on numerical simulations. Lastly, the article provides the outstanding uncertainties and needs for further research into the atmospheric chemistry of N2O5. These include the need for better characterization of N2O5 heterogeneous uptake under temperature conditions characteristic of mid- and high-latitude winter seasons; greater understanding of the influence of individual aerosol components on N2O5 uptake and representation of these components in atmospheric models; and comprehensive descriptions of nighttime vertical profiles of N2O5 and related pollutants.

Use of proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry to characterize volatile organic compound sources at the La Porte super site during the Texas Air Quality Study 2000

[1] Proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) was deployed for continuous real-time monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at a site near the Houston Ship Channel during the Texas Air Quality Study 2000. Overall, 28 ions dominated the PTR-MS mass spectra and were assigned as anthropogenic aromatics (e.g., benzene, toluene, xylenes) and hydrocarbons (propene, isoprene), oxygenated compounds (e.g., formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, methanol, C7 carbonyls), and three nitrogencontaining compounds (e.g., HCN, acetonitrile and acrylonitrile). Biogenic VOCs were minor components at this site. Propene was the most abundant lightweight hydrocarbon detected by this technique with concentrations up to 100+ nmol mol � 1 , and was highly correlated with its oxidation products, formaldehyde (up to � 40 nmol mol � 1 ) and acetaldehyde (up to � 80 nmol/mol), with typical ratios close to 1 in propene-dominated plumes. In the case of aromatic species the high time resolution of the obtained data set helped in identifying different anthropogenic sources (e.g., industrial from urban emissions) and testing current emission inventories. A comparison with results from complimentary techniques (gas chromatography, differential optical absorption spectroscopy) was used to assess the selectivity of this on-line technique in a complex urban and industrial VOC matrix and give an interpretation of mass scans obtained by ‘‘soft’’ chemical ionization using proton-transfer via H3O + . The method was especially valuable in monitoring rapidly changing VOC plumes which passed over the site, and when coupled with meteorological data it was possible to identify likely sources. INDEX TERMS: 0322 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Constituent sources and sinks; 0345 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Pollution—urban and regional (0305); 0365 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Troposphere—composition and chemistry; KEYWORDS: PTR-MS, VOC, air quality, Houston, ozone

CHEMISTRY OF HALOGEN OXIDES IN THE TROPOSPHERE : COMPARISON OF MODEL CALCULATIONS WITH RECENT FIELD DATA

Reactive halogen species (RHS = X, XO, HOX, OXO; X = Cl, Br, I) are known to have an important influence on the chemistry in the polar boundary layer (BL), where they are responsible for ozone depletion events in spring. Recent field campaigns at Mace Head, Ireland, and the Dead Sea, Israel, identified for the first time iodine oxide (IO) at mixing ratios of up to 6.6 ppt and 90 ppt bromine oxide (BrO), respectively, by DOAS also at lower latitudes. These results intensified the discussion about the role of the RHS in the mid-latitude BL.Photochemical box model calculations show that the observed IO mixing ratios can destroy ~0.45 ppb ozone per hour. This is comparable to the rates of the known O3-loss processes in the boundary layer. The model studies also reveal that IO, at these levels, has a strong influence on the BL photochemistry, increasing the OH/HO2- and the NO2/NO - ratios. In combination these changes lead to a reduction of the photochemical ozone formation, which - in addition - reduces ozone mixing ratios by up to 0.15 ppb/h.The studies for the Dead Sea case give no information on the heterogeneous process responsible for the bromine release, but they show that a total of 2 – 4 ppb of total bromine have to be released to explain the observed complete depletion of 60 ppb ozone in 2 – 3 hours.

Vertically Resolved Measurements of Nighttime Radical Reservoirs in Los Angeles and Their Contribution to the Urban Radical Budget

Photolabile nighttime radical reservoirs, such as nitrous acid (HONO) and nitryl chloride (ClNO(2)), contribute to the oxidizing potential of the atmosphere, particularly in early morning. We present the first vertically resolved measurements of ClNO(2), together with vertically resolved measurements of HONO. These measurements were acquired during the California Nexus (CalNex) campaign in the Los Angeles basin in spring 2010. Average profiles of ClNO(2) exhibited no significant dependence on height within the boundary layer and residual layer, although individual vertical profiles did show variability. By contrast, nitrous acid was strongly enhanced near the ground surface with much smaller concentrations aloft. These observations are consistent with a ClNO(2) source from aerosol uptake of N(2)O(5) throughout the boundary layer and a HONO source from dry deposition of NO(2) to the ground surface and subsequent chemical conversion. At ground level, daytime radical formation calculated from nighttime-accumulated HONO and ClNO(2) was approximately equal. Incorporating the different vertical distributions by integrating through the boundary and residual layers demonstrated that nighttime-accumulated ClNO(2) produced nine times as many radicals as nighttime-accumulated HONO. A comprehensive radical budget at ground level demonstrated that nighttime radical reservoirs accounted for 8% of total radicals formed and that they were the dominant radical source between sunrise and 09:00 Pacific daylight time (PDT). These data show that vertical gradients of radical precursors should be taken into account in radical budgets, particularly with respect to HONO.

Free radicals and fast photochemistry during BERLIOZ

The free radicals OH, HO2, RO2, and NO3 are known to be the driving force for most chemical processes in the atmosphere. Since the low concentration of the above radicals makes measurements particularly difficult, only relatively few direct measurements of free radical concentrations have been reported to date. We present a comprehensive set of simultaneous radical measurements performed by Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF), Matrix Isolation — Electron spin Resonance (MI-ESR), Peroxy Radical Chemical Amplification (PERCA), and Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) during the BERLIner OZonexperiment (BERLIOZ) during July and August of 1998 near Berlin, Germany. Most of the above radical species were measured by more than one technique and an intercomparison gave good agreement. This data set offered the possibility to study and quantify the role of each radical at a rural, semi-polluted site in the continental boundary layer and to investigate interconnections and dependencies among these free radicals. In general (box) modelled diurnal profiles of the different radicals reproduced the measurements quite well, however measured absolute levels are frequently lower than model predictions. These discrepancies point to disturbing deficiencies in our understanding of the chemical system in urban air masses. In addition considerable night-time peroxy radical production related to VOC reactions with NO3 and O3 could be quantified.

Heterogeneous chemistry in the troposphere: Experimental approaches and applications to the chemistry of sea salt particles

Halogen atoms, particularly chlorine atoms, are well known to be highly reactive and to play a central role in the chemistry of the upper atmosphere. A large potential source of these halogens in the lower atmosphere (troposphere) exists in the form of sea salt particles. A variety of laboratory, field and modelling studies strongly suggests that there are heterogeneous reactions of sea salt particles which generate photochemically active halogen species such as Cl in marine areas. In addition, there is increasing evidence for a contribution of bromine atoms to tropospheric chemistry in marine regions at high latitudes. We review here briefly the potential importance of such halogen reactions and evidence for their role in the chemistry of the troposphere. Studies carried out in this laboratory to elucidate, at a molecular level, the mechanisms of reaction of synthetic sea salt and its components with gases of tropospheric interest are reviewed. Initial results obtained using a new aerosol apparatus recen...

Intercomparison of UV/visible spectrometers for measurements of stratospheric NO2 for the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change

During the period May 12–23, 1992, seven groups from seven countries met in Lauder, New Zealand, to intercompare their remote sensing instruments for the measurement of atmospheric column NO2 from the surface. The purpose of the intercomparison was to determine the degree of intercomparability and to qualify instruments for use in the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC). Three of the instruments which took part in the intercomparison are slated for deployment at primary NDSC sites. All instruments were successful in obtaining slant column NO2 amounts at sunrise and sunset on most of the 12 days of the intercomparison. The group as a whole was able to make measurements of the 90° solar zenith angle slant path NO2 column amount that agreed to about ±10% most of the time; however, the sensitivity of the individual measurements varied considerably. Part of the sensitivity problem for these measurements is the result of instrumentation, and part is related to the data analysis algorithms used. All groups learned a great deal from the intercomparison and improved their results considerably as a result of this exercise.