Fluxes and concentrations of volatile organic compounds above central London, UK

Langford, B.; Nemitz, E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1765-6298; House, E.; Phillips, G.J.; Famulari, D.; Davison, B.; Hopkins, J.R.; Lewis, A.C.; Hewitt, C.N.. 2009 Fluxes and concentrations of volatile organic compounds above central London, UK. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions, 9. 17297-17333.

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Official URL: http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/17297/200...

Abstract/Summary

Concentrations and fluxes of eight volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured during October 2006 from a high telecom tower above central London, as part of the CityFlux contribution to the REPARTEE I campaign. A continuous flow disjunct eddy covariance technique with analysis by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry was used. Daily averaged VOC mixing ratios were within the range 1–19 ppb for the oxygenated compounds (methanol, acetaldehyde and acetone) and 0.2–1.3 ppb for the aromatics (benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene). Typical VOC fluxes were in the range 0.1–1.0 mg m−2 h−1. There was a non-linear relationship between VOC fluxes and traffic density for most of the measured compounds. Traffic activity was estimated to account for approximately 70% of the aromatic compound fluxes, whereas non-traffic related sources were found to be more important for methanol and isoprene fluxes. The measured fluxes were comparable to the estimates of the UK national atmospheric emission inventory for the aromatic VOCs and CO. In contrast, fluxes of the oxygenated compounds were about three times larger than inventory estimates. For isoprene and acetonitrile this difference was many times larger. At temperatures over 25°C it is estimated that more than half the isoprene observed in central London is of biogenic origin.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > BG01 Measuring and modelling trace gas, aerosol and carbon > BG01.5 Aerosols CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 2 - Biogeochemistry and Climate System Processes > BGC - 2.1 - Quantify & model processes that control the emission, fate and bioavailability of pollutants CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 1 - Monitoring and Interpretation of Biogeochemical and Climate Changes > BGC - 1.1 - Monitor concentrations, fluxes, physico-chemical forms of current and emerging pollutants ...
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Billett (to November 2013)
ISSN:	1680-7367
NORA Subject Terms:	Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	17 Feb 2010 15:43 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/8435

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Programmes: