Ubiquity of organic nitrates from nighttime chemistry in the European submicron aerosol

Kiendler-Scharr, A.; Mensah, A.A.; Friese, E.; Topping, D.; Nemitz, E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1765-6298; Prevot, A.S.H.; Äijälä, M.; Allan, J.; Canonaco, F.; Canagaratna, M.; Carbone, S.; Crippa, M.; Dall Osto, M.; Day, D.A.; De Carlo, P.; Di Marco, C.F.; Elbern, H.; Eriksson, A.; Freney, E.; Hao, L.; Herrmann, H.; Hildebrandt, L.; Hillamo, R.; Jimenez, J.L.; Laaksonen, A.; McFiggans, G.; Mohr, C.; O'Dowd, C.; Otjes, R.; Ovadnevaite, J.; Pandis, S.N.; Poulain, L.; Schlag, P.; Sellegri, K.; Swietlicki, E.; Tiitta, P.; Vermeulen, A.; Wahner, A.; Worsnop, D.; Wu, H.-C.. 2016 Ubiquity of organic nitrates from nighttime chemistry in the European submicron aerosol. Geophysical Research Letters, 43 (14). 7735-7744. 10.1002/2016GL069239

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Abstract/Summary

In the atmosphere nighttime removal of volatile organic compounds is initiated to a large extent by reaction with the nitrate radical (NO3) forming organic nitrates which partition between gas and particulate phase. Here we show based on particle phase measurements performed at a suburban site in the Netherlands that organic nitrates contribute substantially to particulate nitrate and organic mass. Comparisons with a chemistry transport model indicate that most of the measured particulate organic nitrates are formed by NO3 oxidation. Using aerosol composition data from three intensive observation periods at numerous measurement sites across Europe, we conclude that organic nitrates are a considerable fraction of fine particulate matter (PM1) at the continental scale. Organic nitrates represent 34% to 44% of measured submicron aerosol nitrate and are found at all urban and rural sites, implying a substantial potential of PM reduction by NOx emission control.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1002/2016GL069239
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Dise
ISSN:	0094-8276
Additional Keywords:	organic nitrate, particulate matter, field study
NORA Subject Terms:	Atmospheric Sciences Chemistry
Date made live:	15 Aug 2016 10:44 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514266

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