Articles | Volume 17, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-315-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-315-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
18 Jan 2024
Research article |
| 18 Jan 2024
| 18 Jan 2024
Measurements of atmospheric C10–C15 biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) with sorbent tubes
Atmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
Toni Tykkä
Atmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
Simon Schallhart
Atmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
Evdokia Stratigou
IMT Nord Europe, Institut Mines-Télécom, Univ. Lille, Centre for Energy and Environment, 59000, Lille, France
Thérèse Salameh
IMT Nord Europe, Institut Mines-Télécom, Univ. Lille, Centre for Energy and Environment, 59000, Lille, France
Maitane Iturrate-Garcia
Department of Chemical and Biological Metrology, Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS), Bern-Wabern 3003, Switzerland
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Heidi Hellén, Toni Tykkä, Elli Suhonen, Kimmo Teinilä, Teemu Lepistö, Jarkko V. Niemi, Topi Rönkkö, Hilkka Timonen, and Arnaud P. Praplan
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4128, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4128, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
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This study presents a new approach to quantify anthropogenic terpene emissions by measuring VOCs during winter, when biogenic emissions are negligible. Measurements in Helsinki showed that although anthropogenic terpenes accounted for less than 1 % of VOC mass, they made a disproportionately large contribution to atmospheric reactivity. The findings highlight the importance of including anthropogenic terpene emissions in urban air quality studies and atmospheric chemistry models.
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Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 8717–8751, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-8717-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-8717-2026, 2026
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A one-week intensive measurement campaign during the 2022 European heatwave included monitoring of ozone, volatile organic compounds, aerosol chemical composition, and organic tracers to investigate air pollution sources. Results showed that emissions from vegetation and human activities contributed to peaks in ozone and secondary organic aerosol particles. Differences between measurements and model simulations underline the need for better characterization of sources and formation pathways.
Paul D. Hamer, Miha Markelj, Oscar Rojas-Munoz, Bertrand Bonan, Jean-Christophe Calvet, Virginie Marécal, Alex Guenther, Heidi Trimmel, Islen Vallejo, Sabine Eckhardt, Gabriela Sousa Santos, Katerina Sindelarova, David Simpson, Norbert Schmidbauer, Heidi Hellén, Pascal Rubli, Stefan Reimann, Anja Claude, Dagmar Kubistin, Julie Cozic, James Dernie, and Leonor Tarrasón
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 3635–3669, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-3635-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-3635-2026, 2026
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Plants release gases like isoprene that can form ozone and affect air quality. Using models and satellite data, we mapped the emissions of isoprene from plants across Europe and found that droughts can reduce leaf growth, leading to lower emissions. This shows that to understand and predict air quality, we must also understand how drought impacts vegetation. Our findings highlight the value of linking extreme weather, plant health, and pollution in models of the Earth system as a whole.
Lauri K. Savolainen, Teemu Lepistö, Heidi Hellén, Henna Lintusaari, Milja Jäppi, Jarkko V. Niemi, Kimmo Teinilä, Minna Aurela, Markus Lampimäki, Anu Kousa, Janne Lampilahti, Katrianne Lehtipalo, Tuukka Petäjä, Miikka Dal Maso, Hanna E. Manninen, Hilkka Timonen, and Topi Rönkkö
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1692, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1692, 2026
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The study investigates vehicle fleet emissions of road traffic. Despite technological advances, road traffic is still an important pollution source in urban areas, especially when considering unregulated, but health-relevant, emerging pollutants. We report fuel consumption normalized vehicle fleet emission factors for various regulated and unregulated air pollutants. Also, we show that road traffic has inverse and indirect effects on urban aerosol which are not generally well understood.
Kaisa Rissanen, Juho Aalto, Jaana Bäck, Heidi Hellén, Toni Tykkä, and Alain Paquette
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 15415–15435, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-15415-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-15415-2025, 2025
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Urban trees emit biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) that affect air quality through the formation of ozone and particulate matter. Trees in Montreal and Helsinki did not emit more BVOCs than expected based on measurements from forest trees, but the emissions varied between individual trees and growth environments. Avoiding high-BVOC emitting tree species and management strategies that protect trees from BVOC-inducing stress factors would help minimise their negative air quality impacts.
Kimmo Teinilä, Sanna Saarikoski, Henna Lintusaari, Teemu Lepistö, Petteri Marjanen, Minna Aurela, Heidi Hellén, Toni Tykkä, Markus Lampimäki, Janne Lampilahti, Luis Barreira, Timo Mäkelä, Leena Kangas, Juha Hatakka, Sami Harni, Joel Kuula, Jarkko V. Niemi, Harri Portin, Jaakko Yli-Ojanperä, Ville Niemelä, Milja Jäppi, Katrianne Lehtipalo, Joonas Vanhanen, Liisa Pirjola, Hanna E. Manninen, Tuukka Petäjä, Topi Rönkkö, and Hilkka Timonen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4907–4928, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4907-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4907-2025, 2025
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Physical and chemical properties of particulate matter and concentrations of trace gases were measured in a street canyon in Helsinki, Finland, and an urban background site in January–February 2022 to investigate the effect of wintertime conditions on pollutants. State-of-the-art instruments and a mobile laboratory were used, and the measurement data were analysed further with modelling tools like positive matrix factorization and the Pollution Detection Algorithm.
Xiansheng Liu, Xun Zhang, Marvin Dufresne, Tao Wang, Lijie Wu, Rosa Lara, Roger Seco, Marta Monge, Ana Maria Yáñez-Serrano, Marie Gohy, Paul Petit, Audrey Chevalier, Marie-Pierre Vagnot, Yann Fortier, Alexia Baudic, Véronique Ghersi, Grégory Gille, Ludovic Lanzi, Valérie Gros, Leïla Simon, Heidi Héllen, Stefan Reimann, Zoé Le Bras, Michelle Jessy Müller, David Beddows, Siqi Hou, Zongbo Shi, Roy M. Harrison, William Bloss, James Dernie, Stéphane Sauvage, Philip K. Hopke, Xiaoli Duan, Taicheng An, Alastair C. Lewis, James R. Hopkins, Eleni Liakakou, Nikolaos Mihalopoulos, Xiaohu Zhang, Andrés Alastuey, Xavier Querol, and Thérèse Salameh
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 625–638, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-625-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-625-2025, 2025
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Highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs) form secondary organic aerosol that affects air quality and health. In this study, we demonstrate that in a moderately polluted city with abundant vegetation, the composition of HOMs is largely controlled by the effect of NOx on the biogenic volatile organic compound oxidation. Comparing the results from two nearby stations, we show that HOM composition and formation pathways can change considerably within small distances in urban environments.
Sanna Saarikoski, Heidi Hellén, Arnaud P. Praplan, Simon Schallhart, Petri Clusius, Jarkko V. Niemi, Anu Kousa, Toni Tykkä, Rostislav Kouznetsov, Minna Aurela, Laura Salo, Topi Rönkkö, Luis M. F. Barreira, Liisa Pirjola, and Hilkka Timonen
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This study elucidates properties and sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and organic aerosol (OA) in a traffic environment. Anthropogenic VOCs (aVOCs) were clearly higher than biogenic VOCs (bVOCs), but bVOCs produced a larger portion of oxidation products. OA consisted mostly of oxygenated OA, representing secondary OA (SOA). SOA was partly associated with bVOCs, but it was also related to long-range transport. Primary OA originated mostly from traffic.
Hannele Hakola, Ditte Taipale, Arnaud Praplan, Simon Schallhart, Steven Thomas, Toni Tykkä, Aku Helin, Jaana Bäck, and Heidi Hellén
Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-478, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-478, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted
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Norway spruce is one of the main tree species growing in the boreal area. We show that volatile organic compound emission potentials and compound composition vary a lot. We have investigated if e.g. growing location or age of a tree could explain the variations. Recognizing this observed large variability in spruce BVOC emissions (precursors for new particle formation processes), we also tested the consequences of this variability in simulations of aerosol formation.
Yang Liu, Simon Schallhart, Ditte Taipale, Toni Tykkä, Matti Räsänen, Lutz Merbold, Heidi Hellén, and Petri Pellikka
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 14761–14787, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14761-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14761-2021, 2021
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We studied the mixing ratio of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in a humid highland and dry lowland African ecosystem in Kenya. The mixing ratio of monoterpenoids was similar to that measured in the relevant ecosystems in western and southern Africa, while that of isoprene was lower. Modeling the emission factors (EFs) for BVOCs from the lowlands, the EFs for isoprene and β-pinene agreed well with what is assumed in the MEGAN, while those of α-pinene and limonene were higher.
Heidi Hellén, Toni Tykkä, Elli Suhonen, Kimmo Teinilä, Teemu Lepistö, Jarkko V. Niemi, Topi Rönkkö, Hilkka Timonen, and Arnaud P. Praplan
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4128, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4128, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
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This study presents a new approach to quantify anthropogenic terpene emissions by measuring VOCs during winter, when biogenic emissions are negligible. Measurements in Helsinki showed that although anthropogenic terpenes accounted for less than 1 % of VOC mass, they made a disproportionately large contribution to atmospheric reactivity. The findings highlight the importance of including anthropogenic terpene emissions in urban air quality studies and atmospheric chemistry models.
Wenche Aas, Thérèse Salameh, Robert Wegener, Heidi Hellén, Jean-Luc Jaffrezo, Pontus Roldin, Elisabeth Alonso-Blanco, Andres Alastuey, Crist Amelynck, Jgor Arduini, Benjamin Bergmans, Marie Bertrand, Agnes Borbon, Efstratios Bourtsoukidis, Laetitia Bouvier, David Butterfield, Iris Buxbaum, Darius Ceburnis, Anja Claude, Augustin Colette, Aurélie Colomb, Sophie Darfeuil, James Dernie, Maximilien Desservettaz, Elías Díaz-Ramiro, Marvin Dufresne, René Dubus, Mario Duval, Marie Dury, Anna Font, Kirsten N. Fossum, Evelyn Freney, Gotzon Gangoiti, Yao Ge, Maria Carmen Gomez, Francisco J. Gómez-Moreno, Marie Gohy, Valérie Gros, Paul Hamer, Bryan Hellack, Hartmut Herrmann, Robert Holla, Adéla Holubová, Niels R. Jensen, Tuija Jokinen, Matthew Jones, Uwe Käfer, Lukas Kesper, Dieter Klemp, Dagmar Kubistin, Angela Marinoni, Martina Mazzini, Vy Ngoc Thuy Dinh, Jurgita Ovadnevaite, Tuukka Petäjä, Miguel Portillo-Estrada, Jitka Přívozníková, Jean-Philippe Putaud, Stefan Reimann, Laura Renzi, Veronique Riffault, Stuart Ritchie, Chris Robins, Begoña Artíñano Rodríguez de Torres, Laurent Poulain, Julian Rüdiger, Agnieszka Sanocka, Estibaliz Saez de Camara Oleaga, Niels Schoon, Roger Seco, Ivan Simmons, Leïla Simon, David Simpson, Sverre Solberg, Emmanuel Tison, August Thomasson, Svetlana Tsyro, Marsailidh Twigg, Toni Tykkä, Bert Verreyken, Ågot Watne, Katie Williams, Ana Maria Yáñez-Serrano, Karen Yeung, Ilona Ylivinkka, and Karl Espen Yttri
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 8717–8751, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-8717-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-8717-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
A one-week intensive measurement campaign during the 2022 European heatwave included monitoring of ozone, volatile organic compounds, aerosol chemical composition, and organic tracers to investigate air pollution sources. Results showed that emissions from vegetation and human activities contributed to peaks in ozone and secondary organic aerosol particles. Differences between measurements and model simulations underline the need for better characterization of sources and formation pathways.
Luka Drinovec, Jesus Yus-Diez, Tobias Bühlmann, Maitane Iturrate-Garcia, Tobias Hammer, Konstantina Vasilatou, Arun Babu Suja, Thomas Müller, Krzysztof Ciupek, Alejandro Keller, Ernest Weingartner, Jorge Saturno, Maria Gini, Kostas Eleftheriadis, John Backman, Eija Asmi, and Griša Močnik
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1501, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1501, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (AMT).
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We evaluated a traceable calibration method for aerosol absorption instruments based on monodisperse nigrosin particles. The absorption coefficient calculated using Mie theory was compared with measurements using the Photo-Thermal Aerosol Absorption Monitor, traceably calibrated with NO2. Particle classification using setups with the differential mobility analyzer, the centrifugal particle mass analyzer and a tandem of both in series were tested.
Paul D. Hamer, Miha Markelj, Oscar Rojas-Munoz, Bertrand Bonan, Jean-Christophe Calvet, Virginie Marécal, Alex Guenther, Heidi Trimmel, Islen Vallejo, Sabine Eckhardt, Gabriela Sousa Santos, Katerina Sindelarova, David Simpson, Norbert Schmidbauer, Heidi Hellén, Pascal Rubli, Stefan Reimann, Anja Claude, Dagmar Kubistin, Julie Cozic, James Dernie, and Leonor Tarrasón
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 3635–3669, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-3635-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-3635-2026, 2026
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Plants release gases like isoprene that can form ozone and affect air quality. Using models and satellite data, we mapped the emissions of isoprene from plants across Europe and found that droughts can reduce leaf growth, leading to lower emissions. This shows that to understand and predict air quality, we must also understand how drought impacts vegetation. Our findings highlight the value of linking extreme weather, plant health, and pollution in models of the Earth system as a whole.
Lauri K. Savolainen, Teemu Lepistö, Heidi Hellén, Henna Lintusaari, Milja Jäppi, Jarkko V. Niemi, Kimmo Teinilä, Minna Aurela, Markus Lampimäki, Anu Kousa, Janne Lampilahti, Katrianne Lehtipalo, Tuukka Petäjä, Miikka Dal Maso, Hanna E. Manninen, Hilkka Timonen, and Topi Rönkkö
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1692, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1692, 2026
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The study investigates vehicle fleet emissions of road traffic. Despite technological advances, road traffic is still an important pollution source in urban areas, especially when considering unregulated, but health-relevant, emerging pollutants. We report fuel consumption normalized vehicle fleet emission factors for various regulated and unregulated air pollutants. Also, we show that road traffic has inverse and indirect effects on urban aerosol which are not generally well understood.
Gunnar Myhre, Øivind Hodnebrog, Srinath Krishnan, Maria Sand, Marit Sandstad, Ragnhild B. Skeie, Lieven Clarisse, Bruno Franco, Dylan B. Millet, Kelley C. Wells, Alexander Archibald, Hannah N. Bryant, Alex T. Chaudhri, David S. Stevenson, Didier Hauglustaine, Michael Prather, J. Christopher Kaiser, Dirk J. L. Olivie, Michael Schulz, Oliver Wild, Ye Wang, Thérèse Salameh, Jason E. Williams, Philippe Le Sager, Fabien Paulot, Kostas Tsigaridis, and Haley E. Plaas
Geosci. Model Dev., 19, 2577–2591, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-2577-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-2577-2026, 2026
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Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) affect air quality and climate, but their behavior in the atmosphere is still uncertain. We launched a global research effort to compare how different models represent these compounds and to improve their accuracy. By analyzing model results alongside observations and satellite data, we aim to better understand the atmospheric composition of these compounds.
Kaisa Rissanen, Juho Aalto, Jaana Bäck, Heidi Hellén, Toni Tykkä, and Alain Paquette
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 15415–15435, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-15415-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-15415-2025, 2025
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Short summary
Urban trees emit biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) that affect air quality through the formation of ozone and particulate matter. Trees in Montreal and Helsinki did not emit more BVOCs than expected based on measurements from forest trees, but the emissions varied between individual trees and growth environments. Avoiding high-BVOC emitting tree species and management strategies that protect trees from BVOC-inducing stress factors would help minimise their negative air quality impacts.
Marvin Dufresne, Thérèse Salameh, Thierry Leonardis, Grégory Gille, Alexandre Armengaud, and Stéphane Sauvage
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5977–5999, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5977-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5977-2025, 2025
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This paper discusses the 18-month-long measurement of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) in Marseille, where there was no measurement since early 2000, despite the impact of NMHCs on air quality and climate. Traffic-related sources are the largest contributor to NMHC concentrations in Marseille, and shipping strongly contributes to the formation of aerosols. Finally, the Covid-19 lockdown had an impact on NMHC concentrations, reaching a 50 % decrease for traffic-related sources.
Kimmo Teinilä, Sanna Saarikoski, Henna Lintusaari, Teemu Lepistö, Petteri Marjanen, Minna Aurela, Heidi Hellén, Toni Tykkä, Markus Lampimäki, Janne Lampilahti, Luis Barreira, Timo Mäkelä, Leena Kangas, Juha Hatakka, Sami Harni, Joel Kuula, Jarkko V. Niemi, Harri Portin, Jaakko Yli-Ojanperä, Ville Niemelä, Milja Jäppi, Katrianne Lehtipalo, Joonas Vanhanen, Liisa Pirjola, Hanna E. Manninen, Tuukka Petäjä, Topi Rönkkö, and Hilkka Timonen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4907–4928, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4907-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4907-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Physical and chemical properties of particulate matter and concentrations of trace gases were measured in a street canyon in Helsinki, Finland, and an urban background site in January–February 2022 to investigate the effect of wintertime conditions on pollutants. State-of-the-art instruments and a mobile laboratory were used, and the measurement data were analysed further with modelling tools like positive matrix factorization and the Pollution Detection Algorithm.
Maitane Iturrate-Garcia, Thérèse Salameh, Paul Schlauri, Annarita Baldan, Martin K. Vollmer, Evdokia Stratigou, Sebastien Dusanter, Jianrong Li, Stefan Persijn, Anja Claude, Rupert Holzinger, Christophe Sutour, Tatiana Macé, Yasin Elshorbany, Andreas Ackermann, Céline Pascale, and Stefan Reimann
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 371–403, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-371-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-371-2025, 2025
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Accurate and comparable measurements of oxygenated organic compounds (OVOCs) are crucial in assessing tropospheric ozone burdens and trends. However, the monitoring of many OVOCs remains challenging because of their low atmospheric abundance and lack of stable and traceable calibration standards. This paper describes the calibration standards developed for OVOCs at a low amount of substance fractions (<100 nmol mol-1) to transfer traceability of the International System of Units to the field.
Xiansheng Liu, Xun Zhang, Marvin Dufresne, Tao Wang, Lijie Wu, Rosa Lara, Roger Seco, Marta Monge, Ana Maria Yáñez-Serrano, Marie Gohy, Paul Petit, Audrey Chevalier, Marie-Pierre Vagnot, Yann Fortier, Alexia Baudic, Véronique Ghersi, Grégory Gille, Ludovic Lanzi, Valérie Gros, Leïla Simon, Heidi Héllen, Stefan Reimann, Zoé Le Bras, Michelle Jessy Müller, David Beddows, Siqi Hou, Zongbo Shi, Roy M. Harrison, William Bloss, James Dernie, Stéphane Sauvage, Philip K. Hopke, Xiaoli Duan, Taicheng An, Alastair C. Lewis, James R. Hopkins, Eleni Liakakou, Nikolaos Mihalopoulos, Xiaohu Zhang, Andrés Alastuey, Xavier Querol, and Thérèse Salameh
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 625–638, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-625-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-625-2025, 2025
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This study examines BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) pollution in urban areas across seven European countries. Analyzing data from 22 monitoring sites, we found traffic and industrial activities significantly impact BTEX levels, with peaks during rush hours. The risk from BTEX exposure remains moderate, especially in high-traffic and industrial zones, highlighting the need for targeted air quality management to protect public health and improve urban air quality.
Yasin Elshorbany, Jerald R. Ziemke, Sarah Strode, Hervé Petetin, Kazuyuki Miyazaki, Isabelle De Smedt, Kenneth Pickering, Rodrigo J. Seguel, Helen Worden, Tamara Emmerichs, Domenico Taraborrelli, Maria Cazorla, Suvarna Fadnavis, Rebecca R. Buchholz, Benjamin Gaubert, Néstor Y. Rojas, Thiago Nogueira, Thérèse Salameh, and Min Huang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12225–12257, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12225-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12225-2024, 2024
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We investigated tropospheric ozone spatial variability and trends from 2005 to 2019 and related those to ozone precursors on global and regional scales. We also investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of the ozone formation regime in relation to ozone chemical sources and sinks. Our analysis is based on remote sensing products of the tropospheric column of ozone and its precursors, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and total column CO, as well as ozonesonde data and model simulations.
Yao Ge, Sverre Solberg, Mathew R. Heal, Stefan Reimann, Willem van Caspel, Bryan Hellack, Thérèse Salameh, and David Simpson
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 7699–7729, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7699-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7699-2024, 2024
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Atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) constitute many species, acting as precursors to ozone and aerosol. Given the uncertainties in VOC emissions, lack of evaluation studies, and recent changes in emissions, this work adapts the EMEP MSC-W to evaluate emission inventories in Europe. We focus on the varying agreement between modelled and measured VOCs across different species and underscore potential inaccuracies in total and sector-specific emission estimates.
Heidi Hellén, Rostislav Kouznetsov, Kaisa Kraft, Jukka Seppälä, Mika Vestenius, Jukka-Pekka Jalkanen, Lauri Laakso, and Hannele Hakola
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 4717–4731, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4717-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4717-2024, 2024
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Mixing ratios of C2-C5 NMHCs and methanethiol were measured on an island in the Baltic Sea using an in situ gas chromatograph. Shipping emissions were found to be an important source of ethene, ethyne, propene, and benzene. High summertime mixing ratios of methanethiol and dependence of mixing ratios on seawater temperature and height indicated the biogenic origin to possibly be phytoplankton or macroalgae. These emissions may have a strong impact on SO2 production and new particle formation.
Steven Job Thomas, Toni Tykkä, Heidi Hellén, Federico Bianchi, and Arnaud P. Praplan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 14627–14642, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14627-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14627-2023, 2023
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The study employed total ozone reactivity to demonstrate how emissions of Norway spruce readily react with ozone and could be a major ozone sink, particularly under stress. Additionally, this approach provided insight into the limitations of current analytical techniques that measure the compounds present or emitted into the atmosphere. The study shows how the technique used was not enough to measure all compounds emitted, and this could potentially underestimate various atmospheric processes.
Magdalena Okuljar, Olga Garmash, Miska Olin, Joni Kalliokoski, Hilkka Timonen, Jarkko V. Niemi, Pauli Paasonen, Jenni Kontkanen, Yanjun Zhang, Heidi Hellén, Heino Kuuluvainen, Minna Aurela, Hanna E. Manninen, Mikko Sipilä, Topi Rönkkö, Tuukka Petäjä, Markku Kulmala, Miikka Dal Maso, and Mikael Ehn
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 12965–12983, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-12965-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-12965-2023, 2023
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Highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs) form secondary organic aerosol that affects air quality and health. In this study, we demonstrate that in a moderately polluted city with abundant vegetation, the composition of HOMs is largely controlled by the effect of NOx on the biogenic volatile organic compound oxidation. Comparing the results from two nearby stations, we show that HOM composition and formation pathways can change considerably within small distances in urban environments.
Sanna Saarikoski, Heidi Hellén, Arnaud P. Praplan, Simon Schallhart, Petri Clusius, Jarkko V. Niemi, Anu Kousa, Toni Tykkä, Rostislav Kouznetsov, Minna Aurela, Laura Salo, Topi Rönkkö, Luis M. F. Barreira, Liisa Pirjola, and Hilkka Timonen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2963–2982, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2963-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2963-2023, 2023
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This study elucidates properties and sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and organic aerosol (OA) in a traffic environment. Anthropogenic VOCs (aVOCs) were clearly higher than biogenic VOCs (bVOCs), but bVOCs produced a larger portion of oxidation products. OA consisted mostly of oxygenated OA, representing secondary OA (SOA). SOA was partly associated with bVOCs, but it was also related to long-range transport. Primary OA originated mostly from traffic.
Lejish Vettikkat, Pasi Miettinen, Angela Buchholz, Pekka Rantala, Hao Yu, Simon Schallhart, Tuukka Petäjä, Roger Seco, Elisa Männistö, Markku Kulmala, Eeva-Stiina Tuittila, Alex B. Guenther, and Siegfried Schobesberger
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2683–2698, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2683-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2683-2023, 2023
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Wetlands cover a substantial fraction of the land mass in the northern latitudes, from northern Europe to Siberia and Canada. Yet, their isoprene and terpene emissions remain understudied. Here, we used a state-of-the-art measurement technique to quantify ecosystem-scale emissions from a boreal wetland during an unusually warm spring/summer. We found that the emissions from this wetland were (a) higher and (b) even more strongly dependent on temperature than commonly thought.
Hannele Hakola, Ditte Taipale, Arnaud Praplan, Simon Schallhart, Steven Thomas, Toni Tykkä, Aku Helin, Jaana Bäck, and Heidi Hellén
Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-478, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-478, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted
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Norway spruce is one of the main tree species growing in the boreal area. We show that volatile organic compound emission potentials and compound composition vary a lot. We have investigated if e.g. growing location or age of a tree could explain the variations. Recognizing this observed large variability in spruce BVOC emissions (precursors for new particle formation processes), we also tested the consequences of this variability in simulations of aerosol formation.
Tatiana Macé, Maitane Iturrate-Garcia, Céline Pascale, Bernhard Niederhauser, Sophie Vaslin-Reimann, and Christophe Sutour
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 2703–2718, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2703-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2703-2022, 2022
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LNE developed, with the company 2M PROCESS, a gas reference generator to dynamically generate NH3 reference gas mixtures in the air at very low fractions between 1 and 400 nmol/mol. The procedure defined by LNE for calibrating NH3 analyzers used for monitoring air quality guarantees relative expanded uncertainties lower than 2 % for this measurement range. The results of a comparison organized between METAS and LNE allowed the validation of LNE's reference generator and calibration procedure.
Yang Liu, Simon Schallhart, Ditte Taipale, Toni Tykkä, Matti Räsänen, Lutz Merbold, Heidi Hellén, and Petri Pellikka
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 14761–14787, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14761-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14761-2021, 2021
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We studied the mixing ratio of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in a humid highland and dry lowland African ecosystem in Kenya. The mixing ratio of monoterpenoids was similar to that measured in the relevant ecosystems in western and southern Africa, while that of isoprene was lower. Modeling the emission factors (EFs) for BVOCs from the lowlands, the EFs for isoprene and β-pinene agreed well with what is assumed in the MEGAN, while those of α-pinene and limonene were higher.
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Short summary
Even though online measurements of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are becoming more common, the use of sorbent tubes is expected to continue because they offer greater spatial coverage and no infrastructure is required for sampling. In this study the sorbent tube sampling method was optimized and evaluated for the determination of BVOCs in gas-phase samples. Tenax TA sorbent tubes were found to be suitable for the quantitative measurements of C10–C15 BVOCs.
Even though online measurements of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are becoming more...
