Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
www.atmos-chem-phys.net
1680-7316
1680-7324
8
14
2008
10.5194/acp-8-3761-2008
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/3761/2008/
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/3761/2008/acp-8-3761-2008.html
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/3761/2008/acp-8-3761-2008.pdf
3761
3768
2008-07-16
On the volatility and production mechanisms of newly formed nitrate and water soluble organic aerosol in Mexico City
C. J. Hennigan
chennigan@eas.gatech.edu
A. P. Sullivan
C. I. Fountoukis
A. Nenes
A. Hecobian
O. Vargas
R. E. Peltier
A. T. Case Hanks
L. G. Huey
B. L. Lefer
A. G. Russell
R. J. Weber
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0340, USA
School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0340, USA
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0340, USA
Geosciences Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-5007, USA
now at: Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado, USA
now at: New York University, School of Medicine, USA
Measurements of atmospheric gases and fine particle chemistry were made in
the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) at a site ~30 km down wind
of the city center. Ammonium nitrate (NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>) dominated the
inorganic aerosol fraction and showed a distinct diurnal signature
characterized by rapid morning production and a rapid mid-day concentration
decrease. Between the hours of 08:00–12:45, particulate water-soluble
organic carbon (WSOC) concentrations increased and decreased in a manner
consistent with that of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>, and the two were highly correlated
(<i>R</i><sup>2</sup>=0.88) during this time. A box model was used to analyze these
behaviors and showed that, for both NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> and WSOC, the
concentration increase was caused primarily (~75–85%) by secondary
formation, with a smaller contribution (~15–25%) from the
entrainment of air from the free troposphere. For NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>, a majority
(~60%) of the midday concentration decrease was caused by dilution
from boundary layer expansion, though a significant fraction (~40%)
of the NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> loss was due to particle evaporation. The WSOC
concentration decrease was due largely to dilution (~75%), but
volatilization did have a meaningful impact (~25%) on the decrease,
as well. The results provide an estimate of ambient SOA evaporation losses
and suggest that a significant fraction (~35%) of the fresh MCMA
secondary organic aerosol (SOA) measured at the surface volatilized.
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