Observation of new particle formation and measurement of sulfuric acid, ammonia, amines and highly oxidized organic molecules at a rural site in central Germany

  • The exact mechanisms for new particle formation (NPF) under different boundary layer conditions are not known yet. One important question is whether amines and sulfuric acid lead to efficient NPF in the atmosphere. Furthermore, it is not clear to what extent highly oxidized organic molecules (HOMs) are involved in NPF. We conducted field measurements at a rural site in central Germany in the proximity of three larger dairy farms to investigate whether there is a connection between NPF and the presence of amines and/or ammonia due to the local emissions from the farms. Comprehensive measurements using a nitrate chemical ionization–atmospheric pressure interface time-of-flight (CI-APi-TOF) mass spectrometer, a proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS), particle counters and differential mobility analyzers (DMAs), as well as measurements of trace gases and meteorological parameters, were performed. We demonstrate here that the nitrate CI-APi-TOF is suitable for sensitive measurements of sulfuric acid, amines, a nitrosamine, ammonia, iodic acid and HOMs. NPF was found to correlate with sulfuric acid, while an anti-correlation with RH, amines and ammonia is observed. The anti-correlation between NPF and amines could be due to the efficient uptake of these compounds by nucleating clusters and small particles. Much higher HOM dimer (C19/C20 compounds) concentrations during the night than during the day indicate that these HOMs do not efficiently self-nucleate as no nighttime NPF is observed. Observed iodic acid probably originates from an iodine-containing reservoir substance, but the iodine signals are very likely too low to have a significant effect on NPF.

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Author:Christoph Andreas KürtenORCiDGND, Anton Bergen, Martin HeinritziORCiDGND, Markus Leiminger, Verena Lorenz, Felix Piel, Mario SimonORCiD, Robert Sitals, Andrea Christine WagnerGND, Joachim CurtiusORCiD
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-420136
URL:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/12793/2016
DOI:https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-12793-2016
ISSN:1680-7324
ISSN:1680-7316
Parent Title (English):Atmospheric chemistry and physics
Publisher:European Geosciences Union
Place of publication:Katlenburg-Lindau
Contributor(s):T. Karl
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2016/11/14
Date of first Publication:2016/10/14
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2016/11/14
Volume:16
Issue:19
Page Number:21
First Page:12793
Last Page:12813
Note:
© Author(s) 2016. CC Attribution 3.0 License.
HeBIS-PPN:446315222
Institutes:Geowissenschaften / Geographie / Geowissenschaften
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 55 Geowissenschaften, Geologie / 550 Geowissenschaften
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - Namensnennung 3.0