Articles | Volume 17, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-715-2024
© 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-17-715-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
29 Jan 2024
Research article |
| 29 Jan 2024
| 29 Jan 2024
Uptake behavior of polycyclic aromatic compounds during field calibrations of the XAD-based passive air sampler across seasons and locations
Yuening Li
Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, M1C 1A4 Ontario, Canada
Faqiang Zhan
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, M1C 1A4 Ontario, Canada
Yushan Su
Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, M1C 1A4 Ontario, Canada
currently at: Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 125 Resources Road, Etobicoke, M9P 3V6 Ontario, Canada
Ying Duan Lei
Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, M1C 1A4 Ontario, Canada
Chubashini Shunthirasingham
Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, M3H 5T4 Ontario, Canada
Zilin Zhou
Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St George Street, Toronto, M5S 3H6 Ontario, Canada
Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St George Street, Toronto, M5S 3H6 Ontario, Canada
Hayley Hung
Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, M3H 5T4 Ontario, Canada
Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, M1C 1A4 Ontario, Canada
Related authors
Yuening Li, Faqiang Zhan, Chubashini Shunthirasingham, Ying Duan Lei, Jenny Oh, Amina Ben Chaaben, Zhe Lu, Kelsey Lee, Frank A. P. C. Gobas, Hayley Hung, and Frank Wania
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1883, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1883, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Organophosphate esters are important man-made trace contaminants. Measuring them in the atmospheric gas phase, particles, precipitation and surface water from Canada, we explore seasonal concentration variability, gas/particle partitioning, precipitation scavenging, and air-water equilibrium. Whereas higher concentrations in summer and efficient precipitation scavenging conform with expectations, the lack of a relationship between compound volatility and gas-particle partitioning is puzzling.
Jenny Oh, Chubashini Shunthirasingham, Ying Duan Lei, Faqiang Zhan, Yuening Li, Abigaëlle Dalpé Castilloux, Amina Ben Chaaben, Zhe Lu, Kelsey Lee, Frank A. P. C. Gobas, Sabine Eckhardt, Nick Alexandrou, Hayley Hung, and Frank Wania
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10191–10205, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10191-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10191-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
An emerging brominated flame retardant (BFR) called TBECH (1,2-dibromo-4-(1,2-dibromoethyl)cyclohexane) has never been produced or imported for use in Canada yet is found to be one of the most abundant gaseous BFRs in the Canadian atmosphere. The recorded spatial and temporal variability of TBECH suggest that the release from imported consumer products containing TBECH is the most likely explanation for its environmental occurrence in Canada.
Michael F. Link, Megan S. Claflin, Christina E. Cecelski, Ayomide A. Akande, Delaney Kilgour, Paul A. Heine, Matthew Coggon, Chelsea E. Stockwell, Andrew Jensen, Jie Yu, Han N. Huynh, Jenna C. Ditto, Carsten Warneke, William Dresser, Keighan Gemmell, Spiro Jorga, Rileigh L. Robertson, Joost de Gouw, Timothy Bertram, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Nadine Borduas-Dedekind, and Dustin Poppendieck
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3132, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3132, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) is widely used for the measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) both indoors and outdoors. An analytical challenge for PTR-MS measurements is the formation of unintended measurement interferences, product ion distributions (PIDs), that may appear in the data as VOCs of interest. We developed a method for quantifying PID formation and use interlaboratory comparison data to put quantitative constraints on PID formation.
Cynthia H. Whaley, Tim Butler, Jose A. Adame, Rupal Ambulkar, Stephen R. Arnold, Rebecca R. Buchholz, Benjamin Gaubert, Douglas S. Hamilton, Min Huang, Hayley Hung, Johannes W. Kaiser, Jacek W. Kaminski, Christophe Knote, Gerbrand Koren, Jean-Luc Kouassi, Meiyun Lin, Tianjia Liu, Jianmin Ma, Kasemsan Manomaiphiboon, Elisa Bergas Masso, Jessica L. McCarty, Mariano Mertens, Mark Parrington, Helene Peiro, Pallavi Saxena, Saurabh Sonwani, Vanisa Surapipith, Damaris Tan, Wenfu Tang, Veerachai Tanpipat, Kostas Tsigaridis, Christine Wiedinmyer, Oliver Wild, Yuanyu Xie, and Paquita Zuidema
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-126, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-126, 2024
Preprint under review for GMD
Short summary
Short summary
The multi-model experiment design of the HTAP3 Fires project takes a multi-pollutant approach to improving our understanding of transboundary transport of wildland fire and agricultural burning emissions and their impacts. The experiments are designed with the goal of answering science policy questions related to fires. The options for the multi-model approach, including inputs, outputs, and model set up are discussed, and the official recommendations for the project are presented.
Yuening Li, Faqiang Zhan, Chubashini Shunthirasingham, Ying Duan Lei, Jenny Oh, Amina Ben Chaaben, Zhe Lu, Kelsey Lee, Frank A. P. C. Gobas, Hayley Hung, and Frank Wania
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1883, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1883, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Organophosphate esters are important man-made trace contaminants. Measuring them in the atmospheric gas phase, particles, precipitation and surface water from Canada, we explore seasonal concentration variability, gas/particle partitioning, precipitation scavenging, and air-water equilibrium. Whereas higher concentrations in summer and efficient precipitation scavenging conform with expectations, the lack of a relationship between compound volatility and gas-particle partitioning is puzzling.
Jenny Oh, Chubashini Shunthirasingham, Ying Duan Lei, Faqiang Zhan, Yuening Li, Abigaëlle Dalpé Castilloux, Amina Ben Chaaben, Zhe Lu, Kelsey Lee, Frank A. P. C. Gobas, Sabine Eckhardt, Nick Alexandrou, Hayley Hung, and Frank Wania
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10191–10205, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10191-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10191-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
An emerging brominated flame retardant (BFR) called TBECH (1,2-dibromo-4-(1,2-dibromoethyl)cyclohexane) has never been produced or imported for use in Canada yet is found to be one of the most abundant gaseous BFRs in the Canadian atmosphere. The recorded spatial and temporal variability of TBECH suggest that the release from imported consumer products containing TBECH is the most likely explanation for its environmental occurrence in Canada.
Jonathan P. D. Abbatt and A. R. Ravishankara
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 9765–9785, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9765-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9765-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
With important climate and air quality impacts, atmospheric multiphase chemistry involves gas interactions with aerosol particles and cloud droplets. We summarize the status of the field and discuss potential directions for future growth. We highlight the importance of a molecular-level understanding of the chemistry, along with atmospheric field studies and modeling, and emphasize the necessity for atmospheric multiphase chemists to interact widely with scientists from neighboring disciplines.
Rachel Y.-W. Chang, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Matthew C. Boyer, Jai Prakash Chaubey, and Douglas B. Collins
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 8059–8071, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-8059-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-8059-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
During summer 2016, the ability of newly formed particles to turn into droplets was measured in the Canadian Arctic. Our observations suggest that these small particles were growing by the condensation of organic vapours likely coming from the surrounding open waters. These particles grew large enough that they could form cloud droplets and therefore affect the earth’s radiation budget. These results are relevant as the Arctic summer rapidly warms with climate change.
Zoé Brasseur, Dimitri Castarède, Erik S. Thomson, Michael P. Adams, Saskia Drossaart van Dusseldorp, Paavo Heikkilä, Kimmo Korhonen, Janne Lampilahti, Mikhail Paramonov, Julia Schneider, Franziska Vogel, Yusheng Wu, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Nina S. Atanasova, Dennis H. Bamford, Barbara Bertozzi, Matthew Boyer, David Brus, Martin I. Daily, Romy Fösig, Ellen Gute, Alexander D. Harrison, Paula Hietala, Kristina Höhler, Zamin A. Kanji, Jorma Keskinen, Larissa Lacher, Markus Lampimäki, Janne Levula, Antti Manninen, Jens Nadolny, Maija Peltola, Grace C. E. Porter, Pyry Poutanen, Ulrike Proske, Tobias Schorr, Nsikanabasi Silas Umo, János Stenszky, Annele Virtanen, Dmitri Moisseev, Markku Kulmala, Benjamin J. Murray, Tuukka Petäjä, Ottmar Möhler, and Jonathan Duplissy
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 5117–5145, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5117-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5117-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The present measurement report introduces the ice nucleation campaign organized in Hyytiälä, Finland, in 2018 (HyICE-2018). We provide an overview of the campaign settings, and we describe the measurement infrastructure and operating procedures used. In addition, we use results from ice nucleation instrument inter-comparison to show that the suite of these instruments deployed during the campaign reports consistent results.
Attilio Naccarato, Antonella Tassone, Maria Martino, Sacha Moretti, Antonella Macagnano, Emiliano Zampetti, Paolo Papa, Joshua Avossa, Nicola Pirrone, Michelle Nerentorp, John Munthe, Ingvar Wängberg, Geoff W. Stupple, Carl P. J. Mitchell, Adam R. Martin, Alexandra Steffen, Diana Babi, Eric M. Prestbo, Francesca Sprovieri, and Frank Wania
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 3657–3672, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-3657-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-3657-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Mercury monitoring in support of the Minamata Convention requires effective and reliable analytical tools. Passive sampling is a promising approach for creating a sustainable long-term network for atmospheric mercury with improved spatial resolution and global coverage. In this study the analytical performance of three passive air samplers (CNR-PAS, IVL-PAS, and MerPAS) was assessed over extended deployment periods and the accuracy of concentrations was judged by comparison with active sampling.
Shunyao Wang, Tengyu Liu, Jinmyung Jang, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, and Arthur W. H. Chan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 6647–6661, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-6647-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-6647-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Discrepancies between atmospheric modeling and field observations, especially in highly polluted cities, have highlighted the lack of understanding of sulfate formation mechanisms and kinetics. Here, we directly quantify the reactive uptake coefficient of SO2 onto organic peroxides and study the important governing factors. The SO2 uptake rate was observed to depend on RH, peroxide amount and reactivity, pH, and ionic strength, which provides a framework to better predict sulfate formation.
Franziska Köllner, Johannes Schneider, Megan D. Willis, Hannes Schulz, Daniel Kunkel, Heiko Bozem, Peter Hoor, Thomas Klimach, Frank Helleis, Julia Burkart, W. Richard Leaitch, Amir A. Aliabadi, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Andreas B. Herber, and Stephan Borrmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 6509–6539, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-6509-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-6509-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We present in situ observations of vertically resolved particle chemical composition in the summertime Arctic lower troposphere. Our analysis demonstrates the strong vertical contrast between particle properties within the boundary layer and aloft. Emissions from vegetation fires and anthropogenic sources in northern Canada, Europe, and East Asia influenced particle composition in the free troposphere. Organics detected in Arctic aerosol particles can partly be identified as dicarboxylic acids.
Mutian Ma, Laura-Hélèna Rivellini, YuXi Cui, Megan D. Willis, Rio Wilkie, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Manjula R. Canagaratna, Junfeng Wang, Xinlei Ge, and Alex K. Y. Lee
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 2799–2812, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-2799-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-2799-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Chemical characterization of organic coatings is important to advance our understanding of the physio-chemical properties and atmospheric processing of black carbon (BC) particles. This work develops two approaches to improve the elemental analysis of oxygenated organic coatings using a soot-particle aerosol mass spectrometer. Analyzing ambient data with the new approaches indicated that secondary organics that coated on BC were likely less oxygenated compared to those externally mixed with BC.
W. Richard Leaitch, John K. Kodros, Megan D. Willis, Sarah Hanna, Hannes Schulz, Elisabeth Andrews, Heiko Bozem, Julia Burkart, Peter Hoor, Felicia Kolonjari, John A. Ogren, Sangeeta Sharma, Meng Si, Knut von Salzen, Allan K. Bertram, Andreas Herber, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, and Jeffrey R. Pierce
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 10545–10563, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-10545-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-10545-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Black carbon is a factor in the warming of the Arctic atmosphere due to its ability to absorb light, but the uncertainty is high and few observations have been made in the high Arctic above 80° N. We combine airborne and ground-based observations in the springtime Arctic, at and above 80° N, with simulations from a global model to show that light absorption by black carbon may be much larger than modelled. However, the uncertainty remains high.
Mikhail Paramonov, Saskia Drossaart van Dusseldorp, Ellen Gute, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Paavo Heikkilä, Jorma Keskinen, Xuemeng Chen, Krista Luoma, Liine Heikkinen, Liqing Hao, Tuukka Petäjä, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 6687–6706, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-6687-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-6687-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Ice-nucleating particle (INP) measurements were performed in the boreal environment of southern Finland in the winter–spring of 2018. It was found that no single parameter could be used to predict the INP number concentration at the measurement location during the examined time period. It was also not possible to identify physical and chemical properties of ambient INPs despite the complexity of the instrumental set-up. Therefore, this paper addresses the necessity for future INP measurements.
Heiko Bozem, Peter Hoor, Daniel Kunkel, Franziska Köllner, Johannes Schneider, Andreas Herber, Hannes Schulz, W. Richard Leaitch, Amir A. Aliabadi, Megan D. Willis, Julia Burkart, and Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 15049–15071, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-15049-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-15049-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We present airborne trace gas measurements in the European and Canadian Arctic for July 2014 and April 2015. Based on CO and CO2 in situ data as well as 10 d kinematic back trajectories, we characterize the prevailing transport regimes and derive a tracer-based diagnostic for the determination of the polar dome boundary. Using the tracer-derived boundary, an analysis of the recent transport history of air masses within the polar dome reveals significant differences between spring and summer.
Alex K. Y. Lee, Max G. Adam, John Liggio, Shao-Meng Li, Kun Li, Megan D. Willis, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Travis W. Tokarek, Charles A. Odame-Ankrah, Hans D. Osthoff, Kevin Strawbridge, and Jeffery R. Brook
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 12209–12219, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-12209-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-12209-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This work provides the first direct field evidence that anthropogenic organo-nitrate contributed up to half of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) mass that was freshly produced within the emission plumes of oil sands facilities in Alberta, Canada. The findings illustrate the central role of organo-nitrate in SOA production from the oil and gas industry, with relevance for other urban and industrial regions with significant intermediate-volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) and NOx emissions.
Victoria E. Irish, Sarah J. Hanna, Yu Xi, Matthew Boyer, Elena Polishchuk, Mohamed Ahmed, Jessie Chen, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Michel Gosselin, Rachel Chang, Lisa A. Miller, and Allan K. Bertram
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 7775–7787, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-7775-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-7775-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The ocean is a source of atmospheric ice-nucleating particles (INPs). In this study we compared INPs measured in microlayer and bulk seawater in the Canadian Arctic in 2016 to those measured in 2014. A strong negative correlation between salinity and freezing temperatures was observed, possibly due to INPs associated with melting sea ice. In addition, although spatial patterns of INPs and salinities were similar in 2014 and 2016, the concentrations of INPs were on average higher in 2016.
Betty Croft, Randall V. Martin, W. Richard Leaitch, Julia Burkart, Rachel Y.-W. Chang, Douglas B. Collins, Patrick L. Hayes, Anna L. Hodshire, Lin Huang, John K. Kodros, Alexander Moravek, Emma L. Mungall, Jennifer G. Murphy, Sangeeta Sharma, Samantha Tremblay, Gregory R. Wentworth, Megan D. Willis, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, and Jeffrey R. Pierce
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 2787–2812, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2787-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2787-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Summertime Arctic atmospheric aerosols are strongly controlled by processes related to natural regional sources. We use a chemical transport model with size-resolved aerosol microphysics to interpret measurements made during summertime 2016 in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Our results explore the processes that control summertime aerosol size distributions and support a climate-relevant role for Arctic marine secondary organic aerosol formed from precursor vapors with Arctic marine sources.
Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, W. Richard Leaitch, Amir A. Aliabadi, Allan K. Bertram, Jean-Pierre Blanchet, Aude Boivin-Rioux, Heiko Bozem, Julia Burkart, Rachel Y. W. Chang, Joannie Charette, Jai P. Chaubey, Robert J. Christensen, Ana Cirisan, Douglas B. Collins, Betty Croft, Joelle Dionne, Greg J. Evans, Christopher G. Fletcher, Martí Galí, Roya Ghahreman, Eric Girard, Wanmin Gong, Michel Gosselin, Margaux Gourdal, Sarah J. Hanna, Hakase Hayashida, Andreas B. Herber, Sareh Hesaraki, Peter Hoor, Lin Huang, Rachel Hussherr, Victoria E. Irish, Setigui A. Keita, John K. Kodros, Franziska Köllner, Felicia Kolonjari, Daniel Kunkel, Luis A. Ladino, Kathy Law, Maurice Levasseur, Quentin Libois, John Liggio, Martine Lizotte, Katrina M. Macdonald, Rashed Mahmood, Randall V. Martin, Ryan H. Mason, Lisa A. Miller, Alexander Moravek, Eric Mortenson, Emma L. Mungall, Jennifer G. Murphy, Maryam Namazi, Ann-Lise Norman, Norman T. O'Neill, Jeffrey R. Pierce, Lynn M. Russell, Johannes Schneider, Hannes Schulz, Sangeeta Sharma, Meng Si, Ralf M. Staebler, Nadja S. Steiner, Jennie L. Thomas, Knut von Salzen, Jeremy J. B. Wentzell, Megan D. Willis, Gregory R. Wentworth, Jun-Wei Xu, and Jacqueline D. Yakobi-Hancock
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 2527–2560, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2527-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2527-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The Arctic is experiencing considerable environmental change with climate warming, illustrated by the dramatic decrease in sea-ice extent. It is important to understand both the natural and perturbed Arctic systems to gain a better understanding of how they will change in the future. This paper summarizes new insights into the relationships between Arctic aerosol particles and climate, as learned over the past five or so years by a large Canadian research consortium, NETCARE.
Hannes Schulz, Marco Zanatta, Heiko Bozem, W. Richard Leaitch, Andreas B. Herber, Julia Burkart, Megan D. Willis, Daniel Kunkel, Peter M. Hoor, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, and Rüdiger Gerdes
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 2361–2384, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2361-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2361-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Aircraft vertical profiles of black carbon (BC) aerosol from the High Canadian Arctic have shown systematic variability in different levels of the cold, stably stratified polar dome. During spring and summer, efficiencies of BC supply by transport (often from gas flaring and wildfire-affected regions) were different in the lower dome than at higher levels, as apparent from changes in mean particle size and mixing ratios with CO. Summer BC concentrations were a factor of 10 lower than in spring.
Xiaoxiao Li, Sabrina Chee, Jiming Hao, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Jingkun Jiang, and James N. Smith
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 1555–1570, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-1555-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-1555-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We performed lab experiments to explore the role of relative humidity, RH, in atmospheric monoterpene oxidation and new particle formation. These studies will provide insights into the most important steps in the process, while also more accurately representing the real atmosphere. We found that the detected compounds did not change with RH, and in fact could mostly be fully explained by the autoxidation of organic peroxy radicals followed by bimolecular reactions with other peroxy radicals.
Victoria E. Irish, Sarah J. Hanna, Megan D. Willis, Swarup China, Jennie L. Thomas, Jeremy J. B. Wentzell, Ana Cirisan, Meng Si, W. Richard Leaitch, Jennifer G. Murphy, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Alexander Laskin, Eric Girard, and Allan K. Bertram
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 1027–1039, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-1027-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-1027-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Ice nucleating particles (INPs) are atmospheric particles that catalyse the formation of ice crystals in clouds. INPs influence the Earth's radiative balance and hydrological cycle. In this study we measured the concentrations of INPs in the Canadian Arctic marine boundary layer. Average INP concentrations fell within the range measured in other marine boundary layer locations. We also found that mineral dust is a more important contributor to the INP population than sea spray aerosol.
Megan D. Willis, Heiko Bozem, Daniel Kunkel, Alex K. Y. Lee, Hannes Schulz, Julia Burkart, Amir A. Aliabadi, Andreas B. Herber, W. Richard Leaitch, and Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 57–76, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-57-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-57-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The vertical distribution of Arctic aerosol is an important driver of its climate impacts. We present vertically resolved measurements of aerosol composition and properties made in the High Arctic during spring on an aircraft platform. We explore how aerosol properties are related to transport history and show evidence of vertical trends in aerosol sources, transport mechanisms and composition. These results will help us to better understand aerosol–climate interactions in the Arctic.
Travis W. Tokarek, Charles A. Odame-Ankrah, Jennifer A. Huo, Robert McLaren, Alex K. Y. Lee, Max G. Adam, Megan D. Willis, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Cristian Mihele, Andrea Darlington, Richard L. Mittermeier, Kevin Strawbridge, Katherine L. Hayden, Jason S. Olfert, Elijah G. Schnitzler, Duncan K. Brownsey, Faisal V. Assad, Gregory R. Wentworth, Alex G. Tevlin, Douglas E. J. Worthy, Shao-Meng Li, John Liggio, Jeffrey R. Brook, and Hans D. Osthoff
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 17819–17841, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-17819-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-17819-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Measurements of air pollutants at a ground site near Fort McKay in the Athabasca oil sands region in the summer of 2013 are presented. A large number of intermediate-volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) were observed; these molecules were shown previously to generate atmospheric particles downwind of the region. A principal component analysis was performed to identify major pollution source types, including which source(s) is(are) associated with IVOC emissions (e.g., freshly mined bitumen).
Meng Si, Victoria E. Irish, Ryan H. Mason, Jesús Vergara-Temprado, Sarah J. Hanna, Luis A. Ladino, Jacqueline D. Yakobi-Hancock, Corinne L. Schiller, Jeremy J. B. Wentzell, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Ken S. Carslaw, Benjamin J. Murray, and Allan K. Bertram
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 15669–15685, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-15669-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-15669-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Using the concentrations of ice-nucleating particles (INPs) and total aerosol particles measured at three coastal marine sites, the ice-nucleating ability of aerosol particles on a per number basis and a per surface-area basis were determined as a function of size. The ice-nucleating ability was strongly dependent on size, with larger particles being more efficient. This type of information can help determine the sources of INPs and constrain the future modelling of INPs and mixed-phase clouds.
Elijah G. Schnitzler and Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 14539–14553, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-14539-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-14539-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Brown carbon (BrC) has significant but poorly constrained effects on climate. In this work, we investigate the effects of the OH radical on optical properties of secondary BrC in a series of smog chamber experiments. At high relative humidity (RH), we find that the evolution of the particles is complex, exhibiting rapid absorption enhancement followed by slow bleaching. At low RH, bleaching does not occur. These results further our understanding of the highly variable evolution of ambient BrC.
John K. Kodros, Sarah J. Hanna, Allan K. Bertram, W. Richard Leaitch, Hannes Schulz, Andreas B. Herber, Marco Zanatta, Julia Burkart, Megan D. Willis, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, and Jeffrey R. Pierce
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 11345–11361, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-11345-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-11345-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The mixing state of black carbon is one of the key uncertainties limiting the ability of models to estimate the direct radiative effect. In this work, we present aircraft measurements from the Canadian Arctic of coating thickness as a function of black carbon core diameter and black-carbon-containing particle number fractions. We use these measurements to inform estimates of the direct radiative effect in Arctic aerosol simulations.
Emma L. Mungall, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Jeremy J. B. Wentzell, Gregory R. Wentworth, Jennifer G. Murphy, Daniel Kunkel, Ellen Gute, David W. Tarasick, Sangeeta Sharma, Christopher J. Cox, Taneil Uttal, and John Liggio
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 10237–10254, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-10237-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-10237-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We measured gas-phase formic and acetic acid at Alert, Nunavut. These acids play an important role in cloud water acidity in remote environments, yet they are not well represented in chemical transport models, particularly in the Arctic. We observed high levels of formic and acetic acid under both cold, wet, and cloudy and warm, sunny, and dry conditions, suggesting that multiple sources significantly contribute to gas-phase concentrations of these species in the summer Arctic.
Shouming Zhou, Jean C. Rivera-Rios, Frank N. Keutsch, and Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 11, 3081–3089, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-3081-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-3081-2018, 2018
David S. McLagan, Carl P. J. Mitchell, Alexandra Steffen, Hayley Hung, Cecilia Shin, Geoff W. Stupple, Mark L. Olson, Winston T. Luke, Paul Kelley, Dean Howard, Grant C. Edwards, Peter F. Nelson, Hang Xiao, Guey-Rong Sheu, Annekatrin Dreyer, Haiyong Huang, Batual Abdul Hussain, Ying D. Lei, Ilana Tavshunsky, and Frank Wania
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 5905–5919, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-5905-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-5905-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
A new passive air sampler for gaseous mercury was tested at 20 sites on four continents. These sites have in common that they use the state-of-the-art active air sampling technique for gaseous mercury on a continuous basis and therefore allow for an evaluation and calibration of the passive sampler. The sampler proved to work exceptionally well, with a precision and accuracy on par with the active
instrument and better than what has previously been achieved with passive samplers.
Jianhuai Ye, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, and Arthur W. H. Chan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 5549–5565, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-5549-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-5549-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Synergistic effects between SOA formation and SO2 oxidation through Criegee chemistry and reactive uptake by organic peroxides were observed. The relative importance of these two pathways (Criegee vs. peroxide) varies with relative humidity. The latter SO2 loss mechanism to organic peroxides in SOA has not previously been identified. Our results suggest a new pathway of atmospheric SO2 oxidation, which may contribute to the missing mechanisms of high-sulfate production in the polluted areas.
Katrina M. Macdonald, Sangeeta Sharma, Desiree Toom, Alina Chivulescu, Andrew Platt, Mike Elsasser, Lin Huang, Richard Leaitch, Nathan Chellman, Joseph R. McConnell, Heiko Bozem, Daniel Kunkel, Ying Duan Lei, Cheol-Heon Jeong, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, and Greg J. Evans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 3485–3503, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-3485-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-3485-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The sources of key contaminants in Arctic snow may be an important factor in understanding the rapid climate changes observed in the Arctic. Fresh snow samples collected frequently through the winter season were analyzed for major constituents. Temporally refined source apportionment via positive matrix factorization in conjunction with FLEXPART suggested potential source characteristics and locations. The identity of these sources and their relative contribution to key analytes is discussed.
Franziska Köllner, Johannes Schneider, Megan D. Willis, Thomas Klimach, Frank Helleis, Heiko Bozem, Daniel Kunkel, Peter Hoor, Julia Burkart, W. Richard Leaitch, Amir A. Aliabadi, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Andreas B. Herber, and Stephan Borrmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 13747–13766, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-13747-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-13747-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We conducted aircraft-based single particle chemical composition measurements in the Canadian high Arctic during summer. Our results provide evidence for a marine-biogenic influence on secondary formation of particulate trimethylamine in the Arctic boundary layer. Understanding emission sources and further processes controlling aerosol number concentration and chemical composition in the pristine Arctic summer is crucial for modeling future climate in the area.
Douglas B. Collins, Julia Burkart, Rachel Y.-W. Chang, Martine Lizotte, Aude Boivin-Rioux, Marjolaine Blais, Emma L. Mungall, Matthew Boyer, Victoria E. Irish, Guillaume Massé, Daniel Kunkel, Jean-Éric Tremblay, Tim Papakyriakou, Allan K. Bertram, Heiko Bozem, Michel Gosselin, Maurice Levasseur, and Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 13119–13138, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-13119-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-13119-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The sources of aerosol particles and their growth to sizes large enough to act as cloud droplet seeds is of major importance to climate since clouds exert substantial control over the atmospheric energy balance. Using ship-board measurements from two summers in the Canadian Arctic, aerosol formation events were related to co-sampled atmospheric and oceanic parameters, providing insight into factors that drive particle formation and motivating further study of ocean–atmosphere interactions.
Jun-Wei Xu, Randall V. Martin, Andrew Morrow, Sangeeta Sharma, Lin Huang, W. Richard Leaitch, Julia Burkart, Hannes Schulz, Marco Zanatta, Megan D. Willis, Daven K. Henze, Colin J. Lee, Andreas B. Herber, and Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 11971–11989, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-11971-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-11971-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We interpret a series of recent airborne and ground-based measurements with the GEOS-Chem model and its adjoint to attribute the sources of Arctic BC. Anthropogenic emissions in eastern and southern Asia make the largest contribution to Arctic BC. Gas flaring emissions from oilfields in western Siberia and from the Tarim oilfield in western China could have striking impacts on Arctic BC loadings.
David S. McLagan, Carl P. J. Mitchell, Haiyong Huang, Batual Abdul Hussain, Ying Duan Lei, and Frank Wania
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 3651–3660, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-3651-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-3651-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Laboratory experiments indicate that the sampling rate of a passive air sampler for gaseous mercury is (1) not affected by relative humidity, (2) increases slightly with increasing temperature because of the effect of temperature on molecular diffusivity, (3) increases only slightly with wind speed as long as the wind speed is at least 1 m/s, and (4) is not changed when previously deployed diffusive barriers are used.
Victoria E. Irish, Pablo Elizondo, Jessie Chen, Cédric Chou, Joannie Charette, Martine Lizotte, Luis A. Ladino, Theodore W. Wilson, Michel Gosselin, Benjamin J. Murray, Elena Polishchuk, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Lisa A. Miller, and Allan K. Bertram
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 10583–10595, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-10583-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-10583-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The ocean is a possible source of atmospheric ice-nucleating particles (INPs). In this study we found that INPs were ubiquitous in the sea-surface microlayer and bulk seawater in the Canadian Arctic. A strong negative correlation was observed between salinity and freezing temperatures (after correcting for freezing point depression). Heat and filtration treatments of the samples showed that the INPs were likely biological material with sizes between 0.02 μm and 0.2 μm in diameter.
Leiming Zhang, Seth Lyman, Huiting Mao, Che-Jen Lin, David A. Gay, Shuxiao Wang, Mae Sexauer Gustin, Xinbin Feng, and Frank Wania
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 9133–9144, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-9133-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-9133-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Future research needs are proposed for improving the understanding of atmospheric mercury cycling. These include refinement of mercury emission estimations, quantification of dry deposition and air–surface exchange, improvement of the treatment of chemical mechanisms in chemical transport models, increase in the accuracy of oxidized mercury measurements, better interpretation of atmospheric mercury chemistry data, and harmonization of network operation.
Chen Wang, Tiange Yuan, Stephen A. Wood, Kai-Uwe Goss, Jingyi Li, Qi Ying, and Frank Wania
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 7529–7540, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-7529-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-7529-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Three property prediction methods are used to predict equilibrium partitioning coefficients for a set of 3414 compounds implicated in secondary organic aerosol formation. Partitioning from the gas phase to water is found to be much more uncertain than estimates of partitioning into the organic matter of aerosol. This uncertainty matters, as phase distribution is very different depending on which prediction method is applied.
Katrina M. Macdonald, Sangeeta Sharma, Desiree Toom, Alina Chivulescu, Sarah Hanna, Allan K. Bertram, Andrew Platt, Mike Elsasser, Lin Huang, David Tarasick, Nathan Chellman, Joseph R. McConnell, Heiko Bozem, Daniel Kunkel, Ying Duan Lei, Greg J. Evans, and Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 5775–5788, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-5775-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-5775-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Rapid climate changes within the Arctic have highlighted existing uncertainties in the transport of contaminants to Arctic snow. Fresh snow samples collected frequently through the winter season were analyzed for major constituents creating a unique record of Arctic snow. Comparison with simultaneous atmospheric measurements provides insight into the driving processes in the transfer of contaminants from air to snow. The relative importance of deposition mechanisms over the season is proposed.
Julia Burkart, Megan D. Willis, Heiko Bozem, Jennie L. Thomas, Kathy Law, Peter Hoor, Amir A. Aliabadi, Franziska Köllner, Johannes Schneider, Andreas Herber, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, and W. Richard Leaitch
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 5515–5535, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-5515-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-5515-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Our aircraft study for the first time systematically investigates aerosol size distributions, including ultrafine particles (5–20 nm in diameter), in the Arctic summertime atmosphere. We find that ultrafine particles occur very frequently in the boundary layer and not aloft, suggesting a surface source of these particles. Understanding aerosol properties and sources is crucial to predict climate and especially important in the Arctic as this region responds extremely fast to climate change.
Quentin Libois, Liviu Ivanescu, Jean-Pierre Blanchet, Hannes Schulz, Heiko Bozem, W. Richard Leaitch, Julia Burkart, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Andreas B. Herber, Amir A. Aliabadi, and Éric Girard
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 15689–15707, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-15689-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-15689-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The first airborne measurements performed with the FIRR are presented. Vertical profiles of upwelling spectral radiance in the far-infrared are measured in the Arctic atmosphere for the first time. They show the impact of the temperature inversion on the radiative budget of the atmosphere, especially in the far-infrared. The presence of ice clouds also significantly alters the far-infrared budget, highlighting the critical interplay between water vapour and clouds in this very dry region.
W. Richard Leaitch, Alexei Korolev, Amir A. Aliabadi, Julia Burkart, Megan D. Willis, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Heiko Bozem, Peter Hoor, Franziska Köllner, Johannes Schneider, Andreas Herber, Christian Konrad, and Ralf Brauner
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 11107–11124, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-11107-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-11107-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Thought to be mostly unimportant for summertime Arctic liquid-water clouds, airborne observations show that atmospheric aerosol particles 50 nm in diameter or smaller and most likely from natural sources are often involved in cloud formation in the pristine Arctic summer. The result expands the reference for aerosol forcing of climate. Further, for extremely low droplet concentrations, no evidence is found for a connection between cloud liquid water and aerosol particle concentrations.
Sarvesh Garimella, Thomas Bjerring Kristensen, Karolina Ignatius, Andre Welti, Jens Voigtländer, Gourihar R. Kulkarni, Frank Sagan, Gregory Lee Kok, James Dorsey, Leonid Nichman, Daniel Alexander Rothenberg, Michael Rösch, Amélie Catharina Ruth Kirchgäßner, Russell Ladkin, Heike Wex, Theodore W. Wilson, Luis Antonio Ladino, Jon P. D. Abbatt, Olaf Stetzer, Ulrike Lohmann, Frank Stratmann, and Daniel James Cziczo
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 2781–2795, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2781-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2781-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The SPectrometer for Ice Nuclei (SPIN) is a commercially available ice nuclei counter manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies in Boulder, CO. This study characterizes the SPIN chamber, reporting data from laboratory measurements and quantifying uncertainties. Overall, we report that the SPIN is able to reproduce previous CFDC ice nucleation measurements.
Amir A. Aliabadi, Jennie L. Thomas, Andreas B. Herber, Ralf M. Staebler, W. Richard Leaitch, Hannes Schulz, Kathy S. Law, Louis Marelle, Julia Burkart, Megan D. Willis, Heiko Bozem, Peter M. Hoor, Franziska Köllner, Johannes Schneider, Maurice Levasseur, and Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 7899–7916, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-7899-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-7899-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
For the first time, ship emissions of an ice-breaker, the Amundsen, is characterized while breaking ice in the Canadian Arctic using the plume intercepts by the Polar 6 aircraft. The study is novel, estimating lower plume expansion rates over the stable Arctic marine boundary layer and different emissions factors for oxides of nitrogen, black carbon, and carbon monoxide, compared to plume intercept studies in mid latitudes. These results can inform policy making and emission inventory datasets.
Megan D. Willis, Julia Burkart, Jennie L. Thomas, Franziska Köllner, Johannes Schneider, Heiko Bozem, Peter M. Hoor, Amir A. Aliabadi, Hannes Schulz, Andreas B. Herber, W. Richard Leaitch, and Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 7663–7679, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-7663-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-7663-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
We present a case study focused on an aerosol growth event observed in the Canadian High Arctic during summer. Using measurements of aerosol chemical and physical properties we find evidence for aerosol growth into cloud condensation nuclei-active sizes, through marine-influenced secondary organic aerosol formation. Understanding the mechanisms that control the formation and growth of aerosol is crucial for our ability to predict cloud properties, and therefore radiative balance and climate.
Alex K. Y. Lee, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, W. Richard Leaitch, Shao-Meng Li, Steve J. Sjostedt, Jeremy J. B. Wentzell, John Liggio, and Anne Marie Macdonald
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 6721–6733, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-6721-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-6721-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Substantial biogenic secondary organic aerosol (BSOA) formation was investigated in a coniferous forest mountain region in Whistler, British Columbia. A largely biogenic aerosol growth episode was observed, providing a unique opportunity to investigate BSOA formation chemistry in a forested environment. In particular, our observations provide insights into the relative importance of different oxidation mechanisms between day and night.
Emma L. Mungall, Betty Croft, Martine Lizotte, Jennie L. Thomas, Jennifer G. Murphy, Maurice Levasseur, Randall V. Martin, Jeremy J. B. Wentzell, John Liggio, and Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 6665–6680, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-6665-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-6665-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Previous work has suggested that marine emissions of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) could impact the Arctic climate through interactions with clouds. We made the first high-time-resolution measurements of summertime atmospheric DMS in the Canadian Arctic, and performed source sensitivity simulations. We found that regional marine sources dominated, but do not appear to be sufficient to explain our observations. Understanding DMS sources in the Arctic is necessary to model future climate in the region.
Alex K. Y. Lee, Megan D. Willis, Robert M. Healy, Jon M. Wang, Cheol-Heon Jeong, John C. Wenger, Greg J. Evans, and Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 5561–5572, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-5561-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-5561-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Single-particle measurements from a soot-particle aerosol mass spectrometer were performed to examine the mixing state of aerosol particles in an air mass influenced by aged biomass burning. Our observations indicate non-uniform mixing of particles within a biomass burning plume in terms of molecular weight and potassium content, and illustrate that high molecular weight organic compounds can be a key contributor to low-volatility BrC observed in biomass burning organic aerosols.
Roya Ghahreman, Ann-Lise Norman, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Maurice Levasseur, and Jennie L. Thomas
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 5191–5202, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-5191-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-5191-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Aerosols in six size fractions (> 0.49–7.0 microns) were collected in the Arctic (July 2014). The isotopic composition of sulfate aerosols was measured to determine the role of biogenic and anthropogenic sources in the growth of aerosols. More than 63 % of the average sulfate concentration in the fine aerosols (> 0.49 microns) was from biogenic sources. For some samples, the S isotope ratio values for SO2 and fine aerosols were close together, suggesting the same source for SO2 and aerosol sulfur.
Megan D. Willis, Robert M. Healy, Nicole Riemer, Matthew West, Jon M. Wang, Cheol-Heon Jeong, John C. Wenger, Greg J. Evans, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, and Alex K. Y. Lee
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 4693–4706, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-4693-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-4693-2016, 2016
David S. McLagan, Maxwell E. E. Mazur, Carl P. J. Mitchell, and Frank Wania
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 3061–3076, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-3061-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-3061-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
For more than 20 years, scientists and engineers have tried to design simple sampling devices that can collect gaseous elemental mercury from the atmosphere without the use of a pump. A thorough review of the sampler designs that have been presented so far suggests that while some may be suitable for measuring higher air concentrations close to sources, none of them have the accuracy and precision required to record the low atmospheric mercury concentrations prevalent in background regions.
Gregory R. Wentworth, Jennifer G. Murphy, Betty Croft, Randall V. Martin, Jeffrey R. Pierce, Jean-Sébastien Côté, Isabelle Courchesne, Jean-Éric Tremblay, Jonathan Gagnon, Jennie L. Thomas, Sangeeta Sharma, Desiree Toom-Sauntry, Alina Chivulescu, Maurice Levasseur, and Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 1937–1953, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-1937-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-1937-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Air near the surface in the summertime Arctic is extremely clean and typically has very low concentrations of both gases and particles. However, atmospheric measurements taken throughout the Canadian Arctic in the summer of 2014 revealed higher-than-expected amounts of gaseous ammonia. It is likely the majority of this ammonia is coming from migratory seabird colonies throughout the Arctic. Seabird guano (dung) releases ammonia which could impact climate and sensitive Arctic ecosystems.
R. H. Mason, M. Si, C. Chou, V. E. Irish, R. Dickie, P. Elizondo, R. Wong, M. Brintnell, M. Elsasser, W. M. Lassar, K. M. Pierce, W. R. Leaitch, A. M. MacDonald, A. Platt, D. Toom-Sauntry, R. Sarda-Estève, C. L. Schiller, K. J. Suski, T. C. J. Hill, J. P. D. Abbatt, J. A. Huffman, P. J. DeMott, and A. K. Bertram
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 1637–1651, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-1637-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-1637-2016, 2016
N. Borduas, B. Place, G. R. Wentworth, J. P. D. Abbatt, and J. G. Murphy
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 703–714, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-703-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-703-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
HNCO is a toxic molecule and can cause cardiovascular and cataract problems through protein carbamylation once inhaled. Recently reported ambient measurements of HNCO in North America raise concerns for human exposure. To better understand HNCO's loss processes and behaviour in the atmosphere, we provide thermochemical data on HNCO. The parameters allow for more accurate predictions of its lifetime in the atmosphere and consequently help define exposure of this toxic molecule.
R. H. Mason, M. Si, J. Li, C. Chou, R. Dickie, D. Toom-Sauntry, C. Pöhlker, J. D. Yakobi-Hancock, L. A. Ladino, K. Jones, W. R. Leaitch, C. L. Schiller, J. P. D. Abbatt, J. A. Huffman, and A. K. Bertram
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 12547–12566, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-12547-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-12547-2015, 2015
K. M. Badali, S. Zhou, D. Aljawhary, M. Antiñolo, W. J. Chen, A. Lok, E. Mungall, J. P. S. Wong, R. Zhao, and J. P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 7831–7840, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-7831-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-7831-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
This is the first paper to demonstrate that SOA material forms OH radicals upon UV illumination. We quantify the OH formation rates in solution and show species other than H2O2, mostly probably ROOH molecules, are the likely source of the OH. The importance of an OH source from SOA is that photochemical processing within both cloudwater and aerosol particles may arise subsequent to the formation of these radicals.
R. Zhao, A. K. Y. Lee, L. Huang, X. Li, F. Yang, and J. P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 6087–6100, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-6087-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-6087-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Aqueous-phase photochemical decay of light absorbing organic compounds, or atmospheric brown carbon (BrC), is investigated in this study. The absorptive change of laboratory surrogates of BrC, as well as biofuel combustion samples, were monitored during photolysis and OH oxidation experiments. The major finding is the rapid change in the absorptivity of BrC during such photochemical processing. This change should be taken into account to evaluate the importance of BrC in the atmosphere.
F. Wania, Y. D. Lei, C. Wang, J. P. D. Abbatt, and K.-U. Goss
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 3395–3412, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-3395-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-3395-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
The manuscript presents a new way to graphically illustrate some of the processes that occur when organic particles form in the atmosphere. In particular, this method makes it possible to see how factors such as the composition of the atmosphere and temperature affect these processes.
A. K. Y. Lee, M. D. Willis, R. M. Healy, T. B. Onasch, and J. P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 1823–1841, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-1823-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-1823-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding the impact of black carbon (BC) particles on human health and radiative forcing requires knowledge of the BC mixing state. This work investigates the mixing state of BC and other aerosol species in a typical urban area using a single particle mass spectrometry technique. Our results provide quantitative insight into the physical and chemical nature of BC-containing particles near emission and can be used as a basis for our developing understanding of BC evolution in the atmosphere.
T. F. Bidleman, L. M. Jantunen, H. Hung, J. Ma, G. A. Stern, B. Rosenberg, and J. Racine
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 1411–1420, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-1411-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-1411-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Canadian Arctic air samples were analysed for enantiomers (mirror-image isomers) of pesticides α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), trans-chlordane (TC) and cis-chlordane (CC). Annual cycles of enantiomer proportions suggested greater emission of microbially degraded residues from water and soil in warm vs. cold seasons. Enantiomer profiles may change in the future with rising contributions from secondary sources, monitoring them could increase the forensic capability in air monitoring programs.
M. D. Willis, A. K. Y. Lee, T. B. Onasch, E. C. Fortner, L. R. Williams, A. T. Lambe, D. R. Worsnop, and J. P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 4507–4516, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-4507-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-4507-2014, 2014
F. Wania, Y. D. Lei, C. Wang, J. P. D. Abbatt, and K.-U. Goss
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 13189–13204, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-13189-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-13189-2014, 2014
Short summary
Short summary
A description of the formation of secondary organic aerosol requires the prediction of the partitioning equilibrium of organic compounds with multiple functional groups between gas and organic particle phase. While this is typically done by predicting both the saturation vapour pressure and the activity coefficient in the organic particle phase, we demonstrate here that it is feasible to predict the partitioning equilibrium directly. This direct approach has greater precision.
J. D. Yakobi-Hancock, L. A. Ladino, A. K. Bertram, J. A. Huffman, K. Jones, W. R. Leaitch, R. H. Mason, C. L. Schiller, D. Toom-Sauntry, J. P. S. Wong, and J. P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 12307–12317, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-12307-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-12307-2014, 2014
Short summary
Short summary
As one aspect of the NETwork on Climate and Aerosols: addressing key uncertainties in Remote Canadian Environments, measurements of the cloud condensation nucleation properties of 50 nm and 100 nm aerosol particles were conducted at Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island in August 2013. The most efficient cloud condensation nuclei arose when the organic to sulfate ratio of the aerosol was lowest and when winds arrived from the west after transport through the marine boundary layer.
R. Zhao, E. L. Mungall, A. K. Y. Lee, D. Aljawhary, and J. P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 9695–9706, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-9695-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-9695-2014, 2014
M. L. McGuire, R. Y.-W. Chang, J. G. Slowik, C.-H. Jeong, R. M. Healy, G. Lu, C. Mihele, J. P. D. Abbatt, J. R. Brook, and G. J. Evans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 8017–8042, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-8017-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-8017-2014, 2014
S. Zhou, L. Gonzalez, A. Leithead, Z. Finewax, R. Thalman, A. Vlasenko, S. Vagle, L.A. Miller, S.-M. Li, S. Bureekul, H. Furutani, M. Uematsu, R. Volkamer, and J. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 1371–1384, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-1371-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-1371-2014, 2014
D. Aljawhary, A. K. Y. Lee, and J. P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 6, 3211–3224, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-6-3211-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-6-3211-2013, 2013
J. D. Yakobi-Hancock, L. A. Ladino, and J. P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 11175–11185, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-11175-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-11175-2013, 2013
S. N. Wren, D. J. Donaldson, and J. P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 9789–9800, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-9789-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-9789-2013, 2013
R. D. McWhinney, S. Zhou, and J. P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 9731–9744, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-9731-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-9731-2013, 2013
R. Zhao, A. K. Y. Lee, R. Soong, A. J. Simpson, and J. P. D. Abbatt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 5857–5872, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-5857-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-5857-2013, 2013
A. M. Grannas, C. Bogdal, K. J. Hageman, C. Halsall, T. Harner, H. Hung, R. Kallenborn, P. Klán, J. Klánová, R. W. Macdonald, T. Meyer, and F. Wania
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 3271–3305, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-3271-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-3271-2013, 2013
A. S. Cole, A. Steffen, K. A. Pfaffhuber, T. Berg, M. Pilote, L. Poissant, R. Tordon, and H. Hung
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 1535–1545, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-1535-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-1535-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Subject: Gases | Technique: In Situ Measurement | Topic: Instruments and Platforms
Eddy covariance with slow-response greenhouse gas analysers on tall towers: bridging atmospheric and ecosystem greenhouse gas networks
An overview of outdoor low-cost gas-phase air quality sensor deployments: current efforts, trends, and limitations
Multiphysical description of atmospheric pressure interface chemical ionisation in MION2 and Eisele type inlets
A portable nitrogen dioxide instrument using cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy
Development and deployment of a mid-cost CO2 sensor monitoring network to support atmospheric inverse modeling for quantifying urban CO2 emissions in Paris
UAV-based in situ measurements of CO2 and CH4 fluxes over complex natural ecosystems
A new aerial approach for quantifying and attributing methane emissions: implementation and validation
Drone CO2 measurements during the Tajogaite volcanic eruption
Multi-decadal atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements in Hungary, central Europe
Reliable water vapour isotopic composition measurements at low humidity using frequency-stabilised cavity ring-down spectroscopy
A measurement system for CO2 and CH4 emissions quantification of industrial sites using a new in situ concentration sensor operated on board uncrewed aircraft vehicles
Deployment and evaluation of an NH4+/H3O+ reagent-ion switching chemical ionization mass spectrometer for the detection of reduced and oxygenated gas-phase organic compounds
Using metal oxide gas sensors to estimate the emission rates and locations of methane leaks in an industrial site: assessment with controlled methane releases
The ASK-16 Motorized Glider: An Airborne Eddy Covariance Platform to measure Turbulence, Energy and Matter Fluxes
Toward on-demand measurements of greenhouse gas emissions using an uncrewed aircraft AirCore system
Long-term evaluation of commercial air quality sensors: an overview from the QUANT (Quantification of Utility of Atmospheric Network Technologies) study
In-flight characterization of a compact airborne quantum cascade laser absorption spectrometer
Full characterization and calibration of a transfer standard monitor for atmospheric radon measurements
Observing low-altitude features in ozone concentrations in a shoreline environment via uncrewed aerial systems
Development of a Peltier-based chilled-mirror hygrometer for tropospheric and lower stratospheric water vapor measurements
An integrated uncrewed aerial vehicle platform with sensing and sampling systems for the measurement of air pollutant concentrations
Design and evaluation of a low-cost sensor node for near-background methane measurement
Development of a Multichannel Organics In situ enviRonmental Analyzer (MOIRA) for mobile measurements of volatile organic compounds
An Economical Tunable-Diode Laser Spectrometer for Fast-Response Measurements of Water Vapor in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer
Evaluation of Aeris mid-infrared absorption (MIRA), Picarro CRDS (cavity ring-down spectroscopy) G2307, and dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-based sampling for long-term formaldehyde monitoring efforts
Performance characterization of a laminar gas inlet
Validation and field application of a low-cost device to measure CO2 and evapotranspiration (ET) fluxes
Identifying and correcting interferences to PTR-ToF-MS measurements of isoprene and other urban volatile organic compounds
Development of a continuous UAV-mounted air sampler and application to the quantification of CO2 and CH4 emissions from a major coking plant
Effect of land–sea air mass transport on spatiotemporal distributions of atmospheric CO2 and CH4 mixing ratios over the southern Yellow Sea
HYPHOP: a tool for high-altitude, long-range monitoring of hydrogen peroxide and higher organic peroxides in the atmosphere
Portable, low-cost samplers for distributed sampling of atmospheric gases
SI-traceable validation of a laser spectrometer for balloon-borne measurements of water vapor in the upper atmosphere
Field evaluation of low-cost electrochemical air quality gas sensors under extreme temperature and relative humidity conditions
A novel, cost-effective analytical method for measuring high-resolution vertical profiles of stratospheric trace gases using a gas chromatograph coupled with an electron capture detector
Ethylene oxide monitor with part-per-trillion precision for in situ measurements
Development of an automated pump-efficiency measuring system for ozonesondes utilizing an airbag-type flowmeter
Short-term variability of atmospheric helium revealed through a cryo-enrichment method
Using tunable infrared laser direct absorption spectroscopy for ambient hydrogen chloride detection: HCl-TILDAS
New methods for the calibration of optical resonators: integrated calibration by means of optical modulation (ICOM) and narrow-band cavity ring-down (NB-CRD)
A modular field system for near-surface, vertical profiling of the atmospheric composition in harsh environments using cavity ring-down spectroscopy
Field comparison of two novel open-path instruments that measure dry deposition and emission of ammonia using flux-gradient and eddy covariance methods
Development of multi-channel whole-air sampling equipment onboard an unmanned aerial vehicle for investigating volatile organic compounds' vertical distribution in the planetary boundary layer
Electrochemical sensors on board a Zeppelin NT: in-flight evaluation of low-cost trace gas measurements
Evaluating the performance of a Picarro G2207-i analyser for high-precision atmospheric O2 measurements
Airborne flux measurements of ammonia over the southern Great Plains using chemical ionization mass spectrometry
Optical receiver characterizations and corrections for ground-based and airborne measurements of spectral actinic flux densities
Development and validation of a new in situ technique to measure total gaseous chlorine in air
True eddy accumulation – Part 1: Solutions to the problem of non-vanishing mean vertical wind velocity
True eddy accumulation – Part 2: Theory and experiment of the short-time eddy accumulation method
Pedro Henrique Herig Coimbra, Benjamin Loubet, Olivier Laurent, Laura Bignotti, Mathis Lozano, and Michel Ramonet
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 6625–6645, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-6625-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-6625-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents direct flux measurements in tall towers using existing slow-response analysers and adding 3D sonic anemometers. This way, we can significantly improve greenhouse gas monitoring with little extra instrumental effort. Slow-response analysers may be used here as the relevant frequency ranges depend on measuring height. Tall towers offer a large footprint, amplifying spatial coverage. The presented concept is a valuable bridge between atmospheric and ecosystem communities.
Kristen Okorn and Laura T. Iraci
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 6425–6457, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-6425-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-6425-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We reviewed 60 sensor networks and 17 related efforts (sensor review papers and data accessibility projects) to better understand the landscape of stationary low-cost gas-phase sensor networks deployed in outdoor environments worldwide. Gaps in monitoring efforts include the availability of gas-phase measurements compared to particulate matter (PM) and geographic coverage gaps (the Global South, rural areas). We conclude with a summary of cross-network unification and quality control efforts.
Henning Finkenzeller, Jyri Mikkilä, Cecilia Righi, Paxton Juuti, Mikko Sipilä, Matti Rissanen, Douglas Worsnop, Aleksei Shcherbinin, Nina Sarnela, and Juha Kangasluoma
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 5989–6001, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5989-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5989-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Chemical ionisation mass spectrometry is used in the atmospheric sciences to measure trace gas concentrations. Neutral gases require charging in inlets before the mass-to-charge ratio of the resulting ions can be analysed. This study uses multiphysics modelling to investigate how the MION2 and Eisele type inlets work and shows the effect of tuning parameters and their current limitations. The findings are helpful for inlet users and are expected to aid in developing improved inlets.
Steven A. Bailey, Reem A. Hannun, Andrew K. Swanson, and Thomas F. Hanisco
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 5903–5910, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5903-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5903-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We have developed a portable, optically based instrument that measures NO2. It consumes less than 6 W of power, so it can easily run off a small battery. This instrument has made both balloon and UAV flights. NO2 measurement results compare favorably with other known NO2 instruments. We find this instrument to be stable with repeatable results compared with calibration sources. Material cost to build a single instrument is around USD 4000. This could be lowered with economies of scale.
Jinghui Lian, Olivier Laurent, Mali Chariot, Luc Lienhardt, Michel Ramonet, Hervé Utard, Thomas Lauvaux, François-Marie Bréon, Grégoire Broquet, Karina Cucchi, Laurent Millair, and Philippe Ciais
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 5821–5839, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5821-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5821-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We have designed and deployed a mid-cost medium-precision CO2 sensor monitoring network in Paris since July 2020. The data are automatically calibrated by a newly implemented data processing system. The accuracies of the mid-cost instruments vary from 1.0 to 2.4 ppm for hourly afternoon measurements. Our model–data analyses highlight prospects for integrating mid-cost instrument data with high-precision measurements to improve fine-scale CO2 emission quantification in urban areas.
Abdullah Bolek, Martin Heimann, and Mathias Göckede
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 5619–5636, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5619-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5619-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study describes the development of a new UAV platform to measure atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) mole fractions, 2D wind speed, air temperature, humidity, and pressure. Understanding GHG flux processes and controls across various ecosystems is essential for estimating the current and future state of climate change. It was shown that using the UAV platform for such measurements is beneficial for improving our understanding of GHG processes over complex landscapes.
Jonathan F. Dooley, Kenneth Minschwaner, Manvendra K. Dubey, Sahar H. El Abbadi, Evan D. Sherwin, Aaron G. Meyer, Emily Follansbee, and James E. Lee
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 5091–5111, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5091-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5091-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas originating from both natural and human activities. We describe a new uncrewed aerial system (UAS) designed to measure methane emission rates over a wide range of scales. This system has been used for direct quantification of point sources and distributed emitters over scales of up to 1 km. The system uses simultaneous measurements of methane and ethane to distinguish between different kinds of natural and human-related emission sources.
John Ericksen, Tobias P. Fischer, G. Matthew Fricke, Scott Nowicki, Nemesio M. Pérez, Pedro Hernández Pérez, Eleazar Padrón González, and Melanie E. Moses
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 4725–4736, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4725-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4725-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Volcanic eruptions emit significant quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere. We present a new method for directly determining the CO2 emission from a volcanic eruption on the island of La Palma, Spain, using an unpiloted aerial vehicle (UAV). We also collected samples of the emitted CO2 and analyzed their isotopic composition. Together with the emission rate the isotopic data provide valuable information on the state of volcanic activity and the potential evolution of the eruption.
László Haszpra
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 4629–4647, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4629-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4629-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The paper evaluates a 30-year-long atmospheric CO2 data series from a mid-continental central European site, Hegyhátsál (HUN). It presents the site-specific features observed in the long-term evolution of the atmospheric CO2 concentration. Since the measurement data are widely used in atmospheric inverse models and budget calculations all around the world, the paper provides potentially valuable information for model tuning and interpretation of the model results.
Mathieu Casado, Amaelle Landais, Tim Stoltmann, Justin Chaillot, Mathieu Daëron, Fréderic Prié, Baptiste Bordet, and Samir Kassi
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 4599–4612, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4599-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4599-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Measuring water isotopic composition in Antarctica is difficult because of the extremely cold temperature in winter. Here, we designed a new infrared spectrometer able to measure the vapour isotopic composition during more than 95 % of the year in the coldest locations of Antarctica, whereas current commercial instruments are only able to measure during the warm summer months in the interior.
Jean-Louis Bonne, Ludovic Donnat, Grégory Albora, Jérémie Burgalat, Nicolas Chauvin, Delphine Combaz, Julien Cousin, Thomas Decarpenterie, Olivier Duclaux, Nicolas Dumelié, Nicolas Galas, Catherine Juery, Florian Parent, Florent Pineau, Abel Maunoury, Olivier Ventre, Marie-France Bénassy, and Lilian Joly
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 4471–4491, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4471-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4471-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We present a top-down approach to quantify CO2 and CH4 emissions at the scale of an industrial site, based on a mass balance model relying on atmospheric concentrations measurements from a new sensor embarked on board uncrewed aircraft vehicles (UAVs). We present a laboratory characterization of our sensor and a field validation of our quantification method, together with field application to the monitoring of two real-world offshore oil and gas platforms.
Cort L. Zang and Megan D. Willis
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1738, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1738, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Atmospheric chemistry of the diverse pool of reactive organic carbon (ROC; all organic species excluding methane) controls air quality, both indoor and outdoors, and influences Earth's climate. However, many important ROC compounds in the atmosphere are difficult to measure. We demonstrate measurement of diverse ROC compounds in a single instrument at a forested site. This approach can improve our ability to measure a broad range of atmospheric ROC.
Rodrigo Rivera-Martinez, Pramod Kumar, Olivier Laurent, Gregoire Broquet, Christopher Caldow, Ford Cropley, Diego Santaren, Adil Shah, Cécile Mallet, Michel Ramonet, Leonard Rivier, Catherine Juery, Olivier Duclaux, Caroline Bouchet, Elisa Allegrini, Hervé Utard, and Philippe Ciais
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 4257–4290, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4257-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4257-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We explore the use of metal oxide semiconductors (MOSs) as a low-cost alternative for detecting and measuring CH4 emissions from industrial facilities. MOSs were exposed to several controlled releases to test their accuracy in detecting and quantifying emissions. Two reconstruction models were compared, and emission estimates were computed using a Gaussian dispersion model. Findings show that MOSs can provide accurate emission estimates with a 25 % emission rate error and a 9.5 m location error.
Inge Wiekenkamp, Anna Katharina Lehmann, Alexander Bütow, Jörg Hartmann, Stefan Metzger, Thomas Ruhtz, Christian Wille, Mathias Zöllner, and Torsten Sachs
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1586, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1586, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Airborne eddy covariance platforms are crucial, as they measure the three-dimension wind, and turbulent transport of matter and energy between the surface and the atmosphere at larger scales. In this study we introduce the new ASK-16 eddy covariance platform that is able to accurately measure turbulent fluxes and wind vectors. Data from this platform can help to build bridges between local tower measurements and regional remote sensing fluxes or inversion products.
Zihan Zhu, Javier González-Rocha, Yifan Ding, Isis Frausto-Vicencio, Sajjan Heerah, Akula Venkatram, Manvendra Dubey, Don Collins, and Francesca M. Hopkins
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 3883–3895, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-3883-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-3883-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Increases in agriculture, oil and gas, and waste management activities have contributed to the increase in atmospheric methane levels and resultant climate warming. In this paper, we explore the use of small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUASs) and AirCore technology to detect and quantify methane emissions. Results from field experiments demonstrate that sUASs and AirCore technology can be effective for detecting and quantifying methane emissions in near real time.
Sebastian Diez, Stuart Lacy, Hugh Coe, Josefina Urquiza, Max Priestman, Michael Flynn, Nicholas Marsden, Nicholas A. Martin, Stefan Gillott, Thomas Bannan, and Pete M. Edwards
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 3809–3827, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-3809-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-3809-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper we present an overview of the QUANT project, which to our knowledge is one of the largest evaluations of commercial sensors to date. The objective was to evaluate the performance of a range of commercial products and also to nourish the different applications in which these technologies can offer relevant information.
Linda Ort, Lenard Lukas Röder, Uwe Parchatka, Rainer Königstedt, Daniel Crowley, Frank Kunz, Ralf Wittkowski, Jos Lelieveld, and Horst Fischer
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 3553–3565, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-3553-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-3553-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Airborne in situ measurements are of great importance to collect valuable data to improve our knowledge of the atmosphere but also present challenges which demand specific designs. This study presents an IR spectrometer for airborne trace-gas measurements with high data efficiency and a simple, compact design. Its in-flight performance is characterized with the help of a test flight and a comparison with another spectrometer. Moreover, results from its first campaign highlight its benefits.
Roger Curcoll, Claudia Grossi, Stefan Röttger, and Arturo Vargas
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 3047–3065, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-3047-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-3047-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents a new user-friendly version of the Atmospheric Radon MONitor (ARMON). The efficiency of the instrument is of 0.0057 s-1, obtained using different techniques at Spanish and German chambers. The total calculated uncertainty of the ARMON for hourly radon concentrations above 5 Bq m-3 is lower than 10 % (k = 1). Results confirm that the ARMON is suitable to measure low-level radon activity concentrations and to be used as a transfer standard to calibrate in situ radon monitors.
Josie K. Radtke, Benjamin N. Kies, Whitney A. Mottishaw, Sydney M. Zeuli, Aidan T. H. Voon, Kelly L. Koerber, Grant W. Petty, Michael P. Vermeuel, Timothy H. Bertram, Ankur R. Desai, Joseph P. Hupy, R. Bradley Pierce, Timothy J. Wagner, and Patricia A. Cleary
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 2833–2847, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2833-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2833-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The use of uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) to conduct a vertical profiling of ozone and meteorological variables was evaluated using comparisons between tower or ground observations and UAS-based measurements. Changes to the UAS profiler showed an improvement in performance. The profiler was used to see the impact of Chicago pollution plumes on a shoreline area near Lake Michigan.
Takuji Sugidachi, Masatomo Fujiwara, Kensaku Shimizu, Shin-Ya Ogino, Junko Suzuki, and Ruud J. Dirksen
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-635, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-635, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
A Peltier-based chilled-mirror hygrometer, SKYDEW, has been developed to measure tropospheric and stratospheric water vapor. Continuous accurate measurements of water vapor are essential for climate monitoring. More than 40 soundings with SKYDEW have been conducted since 2011 to evaluate the performance. The result of soundings at tropical and mid-latitudes demonstrated that SKYDEW is able to measure up to an altitude of 20–25 km for daytime soundings and above 25 km for nighttime soundings.
Chen-Wei Liang and Chang-Hung Shen
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 2671–2686, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2671-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2671-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In the present study, a UAV platform with sensing and sampling systems was developed for 3D air pollutant concentration measurements. The sensing system of this platform contains multiple microsensors and IoT technologies for obtaining the real-time 3D distributions of critical air pollutants. The sampling system contains gas sampling sets and a 1 L Tedlar bag instead of a canister for the 3D measurement of VOC concentrations in accordance with the TO-15 method of the US EPA.
Daniel Furuta, Bruce Wilson, Albert A. Presto, and Jiayu Li
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 2103–2121, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2103-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2103-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Methane is an important driver of climate change and is challenging to inexpensively sense in low atmospheric concentrations. We developed a low-cost sensor to monitor methane and tested it in indoor and outdoor settings. Our device shows promise for monitoring low levels of methane. We characterize its limitations and suggest future research directions for further development.
Audrey J. Dang, Nathan M. Kreisberg, Tyler L. Cargill, Jhao-Hong Chen, Sydney Hornitschek, Remy Hutheesing, Jay R. Turner, and Brent J. Williams
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 2067–2087, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2067-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2067-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The Multichannel Organics In situ enviRonmental Analyzer (MOIRA) is a new instrument for measuring speciated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air and has been developed for mapping concentrations from a hybrid car. MOIRA is characterized in the lab and pilot field studies of indoor air in a single-family residence and outdoor air during a mobile deployment. Future applications include indoor, outdoor, and lab measurements to grasp the impact of VOCs on air quality, health, and climate.
Emily Wein, Lars Kalnajs, and Darin Toohey
Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2024-34, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2024-34, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for AMT
Short summary
Short summary
We describe a low cost and small research grade spectrometer for measurements of water vapor in the boundary layer. The instrument uses small Arduino microcontrollers and inexpensive laser diodes to reduce cost while maintaining high performance comparable to more expensive instruments. Performance was assessed with intercomparisons between commercially available instruments outdoors. The design's simplicity, performance and price point allow it to be accessible to a variety of users.
Asher P. Mouat, Zelda A. Siegel, and Jennifer Kaiser
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 1979–1994, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1979-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1979-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Three fast-measurement formaldehyde monitors were deployed at two field sites in Atlanta, GA, over 1 year. Four different zeroing methods were tested to develop an optimal field setup as well as procedures for instrument calibration. Observations agreed well after calibration but were much higher compared to the TO-11A monitoring method, which is the golden standard. Historical HCHO concentrations were compared with measurements in this work, showing a 22 % reduction in midday HCHO since 1999.
Da Yang, Margarita Reza, Roy Mauldin, Rainer Volkamer, and Suresh Dhaniyala
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 1463–1474, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1463-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1463-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This paper evaluates the performance of an aircraft gas inlet. Here, we use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experiments to demonstrate the role of turbulence in determining sampling performance of a gas inlet and identify ideal conditions for inlet operation to minimize gas loss. Experiments conducted in a high-speed wind tunnel under near-aircraft speeds validated numerical results. We believe that the results obtained from this work will greatly inform future gas inlet studies.
Reena Macagga, Michael Asante, Geoffroy Sossa, Danica Antonijević, Maren Dubbert, and Mathias Hoffmann
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 1317–1332, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1317-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1317-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Using only low-cost microcontrollers and sensors, we constructed a measurement device to accurately and precisely obtain atmospheric carbon dioxide and water fluxes. The device was tested against known concentration increases and high-cost, commercial sensors during a laboratory and field experiment. We additionally tested the device over a longer period in a field study in Ghana during which the net ecosystem carbon balance and water use efficiency of maize cultivation were studied.
Matthew M. Coggon, Chelsea E. Stockwell, Megan S. Claflin, Eva Y. Pfannerstill, Lu Xu, Jessica B. Gilman, Julia Marcantonio, Cong Cao, Kelvin Bates, Georgios I. Gkatzelis, Aaron Lamplugh, Erin F. Katz, Caleb Arata, Eric C. Apel, Rebecca S. Hornbrook, Felix Piel, Francesca Majluf, Donald R. Blake, Armin Wisthaler, Manjula Canagaratna, Brian M. Lerner, Allen H. Goldstein, John E. Mak, and Carsten Warneke
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 801–825, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-801-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-801-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Mass spectrometry is a tool commonly used to measure air pollutants. This study evaluates measurement artifacts produced in the proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometer. We provide methods to correct these biases and better measure compounds that degrade air quality.
Tianran Han, Conghui Xie, Yayong Liu, Yanrong Yang, Yuheng Zhang, Yufei Huang, Xiangyu Gao, Xiaohua Zhang, Fangmin Bao, and Shao-Meng Li
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 677–691, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-677-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-677-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study reported an integrated UAV measurement platform for GHG monitoring and its application for emission quantification from a coking plant. The key element of this system is a newly designed air sampler, consisting of a 150 m long tube with remote-controlled time stamping. When comparing the top-down results to those derived from the bottom-up inventory method, the present findings indicate that the use of IPCC emission factors for emission calculations can lead to overestimation.
Jiaxin Li, Kunpeng Zang, Yi Lin, Yuanyuan Chen, Shuo Liu, Shanshan Qiu, Kai Jiang, Xuemei Qing, Haoyu Xiong, Haixiang Hong, Shuangxi Fang, Honghui Xu, and Yujun Jiang
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 4757–4768, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4757-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4757-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Based on observed data of CO2 and CH4 and meteorological parameters over the Yellow Sea in November 2012 and June 2013, a data process and quality control method was optimized and established to filter the data influenced by multiple factors. Spatial and seasonal variations in CO2 and CH4 mixing ratios were mainly controlled by the East Asian Monsoon, while the influence of air–sea exchange was slight.
Zaneta Hamryszczak, Antonia Hartmann, Dirk Dienhart, Sascha Hafermann, Bettina Brendel, Rainer Königstedt, Uwe Parchatka, Jos Lelieveld, and Horst Fischer
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 4741–4756, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4741-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4741-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Hydroperoxide measurements improve the understanding of atmospheric oxidation processes. We introduce an instrumental setup for airborne measurements. The aim of the work is the characterization of the measurement method with emphasis on interferences impacting instrumental uncertainty. Technical and physical challenges do not critically impact the instrumental performance. The instrument resolves dynamic processes, such as convective transport, as shown based on the CAFE-Brazil campaign.
James F. Hurley, Alejandra Caceres, Deborah F. McGlynn, Mary E. Tovillo, Suzanne Pinar, Roger Schürch, Ksenia Onufrieva, and Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertz
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 4681–4692, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4681-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4681-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have a wide range of sources and impacts on environments and human health that make them spatially, temporally, and chemically varied. Current methods lack the ability to collect samples in ways that provide spatial and chemical resolution without complex, costly instrumentation. We describe and validate a low-cost, portable VOC sampler and demonstrate its utility in collecting distributed coordinated samples.
Simone Brunamonti, Manuel Graf, Tobias Bühlmann, Céline Pascale, Ivan Ilak, Lukas Emmenegger, and Béla Tuzson
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 4391–4407, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4391-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4391-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The abundance of water vapor (H2O) in the upper atmosphere has a significant impact on the rate of global warming. We developed a new lightweight spectrometer (ALBATROSS) for H2O measurements aboard meteorological balloons. Here, we assess the accuracy and precision of ALBATROSS using metrology-grade reference gases. The results demonstrate the exceptional potential of mid-infrared laser absorption spectroscopy as a new reference method for in situ measurements of H2O in the upper atmosphere.
Roubina Papaconstantinou, Marios Demosthenous, Spyros Bezantakos, Neoclis Hadjigeorgiou, Marinos Costi, Melina Stylianou, Elli Symeou, Chrysanthos Savvides, and George Biskos
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 3313–3329, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-3313-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-3313-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper, we investigate the performance of low-cost electrochemical gas sensors. We carried out yearlong measurements at a traffic air quality monitoring station, where the low-cost sensors were collocated with reference instruments and exposed to highly variable environmental conditions with extremely high temperatures and low relative humidity (RH). Sensors provide measurements that exhibit increasing errors and decreasing correlations as temperature increases and RH decreases.
Jianghanyang Li, Bianca C. Baier, Fred Moore, Tim Newberger, Sonja Wolter, Jack Higgs, Geoff Dutton, Eric Hintsa, Bradley Hall, and Colm Sweeney
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 2851–2863, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2851-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2851-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Monitoring a suite of trace gases in the stratosphere will help us better understand the stratospheric circulation and its impact on the earth's radiation balance. However, such measurements are rare and usually expensive. We developed an instrument that can measure stratospheric trace gases using a low-cost sampling platform (AirCore). The results showed expected agreement with aircraft measurements, demonstrating this technique provides a low-cost and robust way to observe the stratosphere.
Tara I. Yacovitch, Christoph Dyroff, Joseph R. Roscioli, Conner Daube, J. Barry McManus, and Scott C. Herndon
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 1915–1921, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1915-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1915-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Ethylene oxide is a toxic, carcinogenic compound used in the medical and bulk sterilization industry. Here we describe a precise and fast laser-based ethylene oxide monitor. We report months-long concentrations at a Massachusetts site, and we show how they suggest a potential emission source 35 km away. This source, and another, is confirmed by driving the instrument downwind of the sites, where concentrations were tens to tens of thousands of times greater than background levels.
Tatsumi Nakano and Takashi Morofuji
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 1583–1595, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1583-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1583-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We have developed a system that can automatically measure the pump efficiency of the ECC-type ozonesonde. Operational measurement for 13 years by this system revealed that the efficiency fluctuates in each and slightly increases over time. Those can affect the estimation of total ozone amount by up to 4 %. This result indicates that it is necessary to understand the tendency of the pump correction factor of each ozonesonde in order to detect the actual atmospheric change with high accuracy.
Benjamin Birner, Eric Morgan, and Ralph F. Keeling
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 1551–1561, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1551-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1551-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Atmospheric variations of helium (He) and CO2 are strongly linked due to the co-release of both gases from natural-gas burning. This implies that atmospheric He measurements may be a potentially powerful tool for verifying reported anthropogenic natural-gas usage. Here, we present the development and initial results of a novel measurement system of atmospheric He that paves the way for establishing a global monitoring network in the future.
John W. Halfacre, Jordan Stewart, Scott C. Herndon, Joseph R. Roscioli, Christoph Dyroff, Tara I. Yacovitch, Michael Flynn, Stephen J. Andrews, Steven S. Brown, Patrick R. Veres, and Pete M. Edwards
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 1407–1429, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1407-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1407-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study details a new sampling method for the optical detection of hydrogen chloride (HCl). HCl is an important atmospheric reservoir for chlorine atoms, which can affect nitrogen oxide cycling and the lifetimes of volatile organic compounds and ozone. However, HCl has a high affinity for interacting with surfaces, thereby preventing fast, quantitative measurements. The sampling technique in this study minimizes these surface interactions and provides a high-quality measurement of HCl.
Henning Finkenzeller, Denis Pöhler, Martin Horbanski, Johannes Lampel, and Ulrich Platt
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 1343–1356, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1343-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1343-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Optical resonators enhance the light path in compact instruments, thereby improving their sensitivity. Determining the established path length in the instrument is a prerequisite for the accurate determination of trace gas concentrations but can be a significant complication in the use of such resonators. Here we show two calibration techniques which are relatively simple and free of consumables but still provide accurate calibrations. This facilitates the use of optical resonators.
Andrew W. Seidl, Harald Sodemann, and Hans Christian Steen-Larsen
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 769–790, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-769-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-769-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
It is challenging to make field measurements of stable water isotopes in the Arctic. To this end, we present a modular stable-water-isotope analyzer profiling system. The system operated for a 2-week field campaign on Svalbard during the Arctic winter. We evaluate the system’s performance and analyze any potential impact that the field conditions might have had on the isotopic measurements and the system's ability to resolve isotope gradients in the lowermost layer of the atmosphere.
Daan Swart, Jun Zhang, Shelley van der Graaf, Susanna Rutledge-Jonker, Arjan Hensen, Stijn Berkhout, Pascal Wintjen, René van der Hoff, Marty Haaima, Arnoud Frumau, Pim van den Bulk, Ruben Schulte, Margreet van Zanten, and Thomas van Goethem
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 529–546, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-529-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-529-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
During a 5-week comparison campaign, we tested two set-ups to measure half hourly ammonia fluxes. The eddy covariance and flux gradient systems showed very similar results when the upwind terrain was both homogeneous and free of obstacles. We discuss the technical performance and practical limitations of both systems. Measurements from these instruments can facilitate the study of processes behind ammonia deposition, an important contributor to eutrophication and acidificationin natural areas.
Suding Yang, Xin Li, Limin Zeng, Xuena Yu, Ying Liu, Sihua Lu, Xiaofeng Huang, Dongmei Zhang, Haibin Xu, Shuchen Lin, Hefan Liu, Miao Feng, Danlin Song, Qinwen Tan, Jinhui Cui, Lifan Wang, Ying Chen, Wenjie Wang, Haijiong Sun, Mengdi Song, Liuwei Kong, Yi Liu, Linhui Wei, Xianwu Zhu, and Yuanhang Zhang
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 501–512, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-501-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-501-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Vertical observation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is essential to study the spatial distribution and evolution patterns of VOCs in the planetary boundary layer (PBL). This paper describes multi-channel whole-air sampling equipment onboard an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for near-continuous VOC vertical observation. Vertical profiles of VOCs and trace gases during the evolution of the PBL in south-western China have been successfully obtained by deploying the newly developed UAV system.
Tobias Schuldt, Georgios I. Gkatzelis, Christian Wesolek, Franz Rohrer, Benjamin Winter, Thomas A. J. Kuhlbusch, Astrid Kiendler-Scharr, and Ralf Tillmann
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 373–386, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-373-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-373-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We report in situ measurements of air pollutant concentrations within the planetary boundary layer on board a Zeppelin NT in Germany. We highlight the in-flight evaluation of electrochemical sensors that were installed inside a hatch box located on the bottom of the Zeppelin. Results from this work emphasize the potential of these sensors for other in situ airborne applications, e.g., on board unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Leigh S. Fleming, Andrew C. Manning, Penelope A. Pickers, Grant L. Forster, and Alex J. Etchells
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 387–401, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-387-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-387-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Measurements of atmospheric O2 can help constrain the carbon cycle processes and quantify fossil fuel CO2 emissions; however, measurement of atmospheric O2 is very challenging, and existing analysers are complex systems to build and maintain. We have tested a new O2 analyser (Picarro Inc. G2207-i) in the laboratory and at Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory. We have found that the G2207-i does not perform as well as an existing O2 analyser from Sable Systems Inc.
Siegfried Schobesberger, Emma L. D'Ambro, Lejish Vettikkat, Ben H. Lee, Qiaoyun Peng, David M. Bell, John E. Shilling, Manish Shrivastava, Mikhail Pekour, Jerome Fast, and Joel A. Thornton
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 247–271, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-247-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-247-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We present a new, highly sensitive technique for measuring atmospheric ammonia, an important trace gas that is emitted mainly by agriculture. We deployed the instrument on an aircraft during research flights over rural Oklahoma. Due to its fast response, we could analyze correlations with turbulent winds and calculate ammonia emissions from nearby areas at 1 to 2 km resolution. We observed high spatial variability and point sources that are not resolved in the US National Emissions Inventory.
Birger Bohn and Insa Lohse
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 209–233, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-209-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-209-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Optical receivers for solar spectral actinic radiation are designed for angle-independent sensitivities within a hemisphere. Remaining imperfections can be compensated for by receiver-specific corrections based on laboratory characterizations and radiative transfer calculations of spectral radiance distributions. The corrections cover a wide range of realistic atmospheric conditions and were applied to ground-based and airborne measurements in a wavelength range 280–660 nm.
Teles C. Furlani, RenXi Ye, Jordan Stewart, Leigh R. Crilley, Peter M. Edwards, Tara F. Kahan, and Cora J. Young
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 181–193, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-181-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-181-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study describes a new technique to measure total gaseous chlorine, which is the sum of gas-phase chlorine-containing chemicals. The method converts any chlorine-containing molecule to hydrogen chloride that can be detected in real time using a cavity ring-down spectrometer. The new method was validated through laboratory experiments, as well as by making measurements of ambient outdoor air and indoor air during cleaning with a chlorine-based cleaner.
Anas Emad and Lukas Siebicke
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 29–40, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-29-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-29-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The true eddy accumulation (TEA) method enables measuring atmospheric exchange with slow-response gas analyzers. TEA is formulated assuming ideal conditions with a zero mean vertical wind velocity during the averaging interval. This core assumption is rarely valid under field conditions. Here, we extend the TEA equation to accommodate nonideal conditions. The new equation allows constraining the systematic error term in the measured fluxes and the possibility to minimize or remove it.
Anas Emad and Lukas Siebicke
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 41–55, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-41-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-41-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
A new micrometeorological method to measure atmospheric exchange is proposed, and a prototype sampler is evaluated. The new method, called short-time eddy accumulation, is a variant of the eddy accumulation method, which is suited for use with slow gas analyzers. The new method enables adaptive time-varying accumulation intervals, which brings many advantages to flux measurements such as an improved dynamic range and the ability to run eddy accumulation in a continuous flow-through mode.
Cited articles
Abdul Hussain, B., Westgate, J. N., Hayward, S. J., Shunthirasingham, C., Brown, T. N., Hung, H., Lei, Y. D., and Wania, F.: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in soils and atmosphere of Western Canadian mountains: The role of source proximity, precipitation, forest cover and mountain cold-trapping, Atmos. Environ. X, 1, 100004, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2018.100004, 2019.
Ahad, J. M. E., Pakdel, H., Labarre, T., Cooke, C. A., Gammon, P. R., and Savard, M. M.: Isotopic analyses fingerprint sources of polycyclic aromatic compound-bearing dust in Athabasca oil sands region snowpack, Environ. Sci. Technol., 55, 5887–5897, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c08339, 2021.
Andersson, J. T. and Achten, C.: Time to say goodbye to the 16 EPA PAHs? Toward an up-to-date use of PACs for environmental purposes, Polycycl. Aromat. Compd., 35, 330–354, https://doi.org/10.1080/10406638.2014.991042, 2015.
Armitage, J. M., Hayward, S. J., and Wania, F.: Modeling the uptake of neutral organic chemicals on XAD passive air samplers under variable temperatures, external wind speeds and ambient air concentrations (PAS-SIM), Environ. Sci. Technol., 47, 13546–13554, https://doi.org/10.1021/es402978a, 2013.
Atkinson, D. and Curthoys, G.: The determination of heats of adsorption by gas-solid chromatography, J. Chem. Educ., 55, 564–566, https://doi.org/10.1021/ed055p564, 1978.
Atkinson, R. and Arey, J.: Mechanisms of the gas-phase reactions of aromatic hydrocarbons and PAHs with OH and NO3 radicals, Polycycl. Aromat. Compd., 27, 15–40, https://doi.org/10.1080/10406630601134243, 2007.
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry): Toxicological profile for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, US Government Printing Office, https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxProfiles/ToxProfiles.aspx?id=122&tid=25 (last access: 1 July 2023), 1995.
Barthel, P., Thuens, S., Shunthirasingham, C., Westgate, J. N., Wania, F., and Radke, M.: Application of XAD-resin based passive air samplers to assess local (roadside) and regional patterns of persistent organic pollutants, Environ. Pollut., 166, 218–225, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2012.03.026, 2012.
Bartkow, M. E., Hawker, D. W., Kennedy, K. E., and Müller, J. F.: Characterizing Uptake Kinetics of PAHs from the Air Using Polyethylene-Based Passive Air Samplers of Multiple Surface Area-to-Volume Ratios, Environ. Sci. Technol., 38, 2701–2706, https://doi.org/10.1021/es0348849, 2004.
Bedjanian, Y., Nguyen, M. L., and Le Bras, G.: Kinetics of the reactions of soot surface-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with the OH radicals, Atmos. Environ., 44, 1754–1760, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.02.007, 2010.
Berthiaume, A., Galarneau, E., and Marson, G.: Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in the Canadian environment: Sources and emissions, Environ. Pollut., 269, 116008, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116008, 2021.
Boffetta, P., Jourenkova, N., and Gustavsson, P.: Cancer risk from occupational and environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Cancer Causes Control, 8, 444–472, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018465507029, 1997.
Bohlin-Nizzetto, P., Melymuk, L., White, K. B., Kalina, J., Madadi, V. O., Adu-Kumi, S., Prokeš, R., Přibylová, P., and Klánová, J.: Field- and model-based calibration of polyurethane foam passive air samplers in different climate regions highlights differences in sampler uptake performance, Atmos. Environ., 238, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117742, 2020.
Bohlin, P., Audy, O., Škrdlíková, L., Kukučka, P., Vojta, Š., Přibylová, P., Prokeš, R., Čupr, P., and Klánová, J.: Evaluation and guidelines for using polyurethane foam (PUF) passive air samplers in double-dome chambers to assess semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in non-industrial indoor environments, Environ. Sci. Process. Impacts, 16, 2617–2626, https://doi.org/10.1039/c4em00305e, 2014a.
Bohlin, P., Audy, O., Škrdlíková, L., Kukučka, P., Přibylová, P., Prokeš, R., Vojta, Š., and Klánová, J.: Outdoor passive air monitoring of semi volatile organic compounds (SVOCs): a critical evaluation of performance and limitations of polyurethane foam (PUF) disks, Environ. Sci. Process. Impacts, 16, 433–444, https://doi.org/10.1039/C3EM00644A, 2014b.
Borrowman, C. K., Zhou, S., Burrow, T. E., and Abbatt, J. P. D.: Formation of environmentally persistent free radicals from the heterogeneous reaction of ozone and polycyclic aromatic compounds, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 18, 205–212, https://doi.org/10.1039/c5cp05606c, 2016.
Boström, C. E., Gerde, P., Hanberg, A., Jernström, B., Johansson, C., Kyrklund, T., Rannug, A., Törnqvist, M., Victorin, K., and Westerholm, R.: Cancer risk assessment, indicators, and guidelines for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the ambient air, Environ. Health Perspect., 110, 451–488, https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.110-1241197, 2002.
Brubaker, W. W. and Hites, R. A.: OH Reaction Kinetics of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Dibenzofurans, J. Phys. Chem. A, 102, 915–921, https://doi.org/10.1021/jp9721199, 1998.
Chaemfa, C., Wild, E., Davison, B., Barber, J. L., and Jones, K. C.: A study of aerosol entrapment and the influence of wind speed, chamber design and foam density on polyurethane foam passive air samplers used for persistent organic pollutants, J. Environ. Monit., 11, 1135–1139, https://doi.org/10.1039/B823016A, 2009.
Cheng, H., Deng, Z., Chakraborty, P., Liu, D., Zhang, R., Xu, Y., Luo, C., Zhang, G., and Li, J.: A comparison study of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in three Indian cities using PUF disk passive air samplers, Atmos. Environ., 73, 16–21, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.03.001, 2013.
Cheng, I., Wen, D., Zhang, L., Wu, Z., Qiu, X., Yang, F., and Harner, T.: Deposition mapping of polycyclic aromatic compounds in the oil sands region of Alberta, Canada and linkages to ecosystem impacts, Environ. Sci. Technol., 52, 12456–12464, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b02486, 2018.
Choi, S.-D., Shunthirasingham, C., Daly, G. L., Xiao, H., Lei, Y. D., and Wania, F.: Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Canadian mountain air and soil are controlled by proximity to roads, Environ. Pollut., 157, 3199–3206, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2009.05.032, 2009.
Daly, G. L., Lei, Y. D., Castillo, L. E., Muir, D. C. G., and Wania, F.: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Costa Rican air and soil: A tropical/temperate comparison, Atmos. Environ., 41, 7339–7350, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.05.014, 2007.
Domínguez-Morueco, N., Augusto, S., Trabalón, L., Pocurull, E., Borrull, F., Schuhmacher, M., Domingo, J. L., and Nadal, M.: Monitoring PAHs in the petrochemical area of Tarragona County, Spain: comparing passive air samplers with lichen transplants, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., 24, 11890–11900, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5612-2, 2017.
Ellickson, K. M., McMahon, C. M., Herbrandson, C., Krause, M. J., Schmitt, C. M., Lippert, C. J., and Pratt, G. C.: Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air using passive sampling calibrated with active measurements, Environ. Pollut., 231, 487–496, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.08.049, 2017.
Environment Canada and Health Canada: Canadian Environmental Protection Act Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons-Priority Substances List Assessment Report, Ottawa, Ontario, 1–68, ISBN 0-662-22209-1, 1994.
Esteve, W., Budzinski, H., and Villenave, E.: Relative rate constants for the heterogeneous reactions of OH, NO2 and NO radicals with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adsorbed on carbonaceous particles, Part 1: PAHs adsorbed on 1–2 µm calibrated graphite particles, Atmos. Environ., 38, 6063–6072, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2004.05.059, 2004.
Esteve, W., Budzinski, H., and Villenave, E.: Relative rate constants for the heterogeneous reactions of NO2 and OH radicals with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adsorbed on carbonaceous particles. Part 2: PAHs adsorbed on diesel particulate exhaust SRM 1650a, Atmos. Environ., 40, 201–211, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2005.07.053, 2006.
Ghosal, D., Ghosh, S., Dutta, T. K., and Ahn, Y.: Current state of knowledge in microbial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): A review, Front. Microbiol., 7, 1369, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01369, 2016.
Golzadeh, N., Barst, B. D., Baker, J. M., Auger, J. C., and McKinney, M. A.: Alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are the largest contributor to polycyclic aromatic compound concentrations in traditional foods of the Bigstone Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada, Environ. Pollut., 275, 116625, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116625, 2021.
Goss, K. U.: Adsorption of VOCs from the gas phase to different minerals and a mineral mixture, Environ. Sci. Technol., 30, 2135–2142, https://doi.org/10.1021/es950508f, 1996.
Grosjean, D., Fung, K., and Harrison, J.: Interactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with atmospheric pollutants, Environ. Sci. Technol., 17, 673–679, https://doi.org/10.1021/es00117a010, 1983.
Grung, M., Næs, K., Fogelberg, O., Nilsen, A. J., Brack, W., Lübcke-von Varel, U., and Thomas, K. V: Effects-directed analysis of sediments from polluted marine sites in Norway, J. Toxicol. Env. Health, 74, 439–454, https://doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2011.550555, 2011.
Harner, T., Su, K., Genualdi, S., Karpowicz, J., Ahrens, L., Mihele, C., Schuster, J., Charland, J.-P. P., and Narayan, J.: Calibration and application of PUF disk passive air samplers for tracking polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), Atmos. Environ., 75, 123–128, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.04.012, 2013.
Harner, T., Rauert, C., Muir, D., Schuster, J. K., Hsu, Y.-M., Zhang, L., Marson, G., Watson, J. G., Ahad, J., and Cho, S.: Air synthesis review: polycyclic aromatic compounds in the oil sands region, Environ. Rev., 26, 430–468, https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2018-0039, 2018.
Hawthorne, S. B., Miller, D. J., and Kreitinger, J. P.: Measurement of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in sediments and toxic units used for estimating risk to benthic invertebrates at manufactured gas plant sites, Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 25, 287–296, https://doi.org/10.1897/05-111R.1, 2006.
Hayward, S. J., Lei, Y. D., and Wania, F.: Sorption of a diverse set of organic chemical vapors onto XAD-2 resin: Measurement, prediction and implications for air sampling, Atmos. Environ., 45, 296–302, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.10.028, 2011.
Holme, J. A., Valen, H., Brinchmann, B. C., Vist, G. E., Grimsrud, T. K., Becher, R., Holme, A. M., Øvrevik, J., and Alexander, J.: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may explain the paradoxical effects of cigarette use on preeclampsia (PE), Toxicology, 473, 153206, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2022.153206, 2022.
Holt, E., Bohlin-Nizzetto, P., Borůvková, J., Harner, T., Kalina, J., Melymuk, L., and Klánová, J.: Using long-term air monitoring of semi-volatile organic compounds to evaluate the uncertainty in polyurethane-disk passive sampler-derived air concentrations, Environ. Pollut., 220, 1100–1111, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.11.030, 2017.
Jariyasopit, N., Liu, Y., Liggio, J., and Harner, T.: Stability of polycyclic aromatic compounds in polyurethane foam-type passive air samplers upon O3 exposure, Atmos. Environ., 120, 200–204, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.08.088, 2015.
Jariyasopit, N., Zhang, Y., Martin, J. W., and Harner, T.: Comparison of polycyclic aromatic compounds in air measured by conventional passive air samplers and passive dry deposition samplers and contributions from petcoke and oil sands ore, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 9161–9171, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-9161-2018, 2018.
Jariyasopit, N., Tung, P., Su, K., Halappanavar, S., Evans, G. J., Su, Y., Khoomrung, S., and Harner, T.: Polycyclic aromatic compounds in urban air and associated inhalation cancer risks: A case study targeting distinct source sectors, Environ. Pollut., 252, 1882–1891, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.06.015, 2019.
Jariyasopit, N., Harner, T., Shin, C., and Park, R.: The effects of plume episodes on PAC profiles in the Athabasca oil sands region, Environ. Pollut., 282, 117014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117014, 2021.
Kaisarevic, S., Varel, U. L., Orcic, D., Streck, G., Schulze, T., Pogrmic, K., Teodorovic, I., Brack, W., and Kovacevic, R.: Effect-directed analysis of contaminated sediment from the wastewater canal in Pancevo industrial area, Serbia, Chemosphere, 77, 907–913, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.08.042, 2009.
Kasumba, J. and Holmén, B. A.: Heterogeneous ozonation reactions of PAHs and fatty acid methyl esters in biodiesel particulate matter, Atmos. Environ., 175, 15–24, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.11.051, 2018.
Kim, K. H., Jahan, S. A., Kabir, E., and Brown, R. J. C.: A review of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their human health effects, Environ. Int., 60, 71–80, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2013.07.019, 2013.
Lévy, M., Al-Alam, J., Ridacker, C., Massemin, S., and Millet, M.: Use of XAD®-2 passive air samplers for monitoring environmental trends of PAHs, PCBs and pesticides in three different sites in Strasbourg and its vicinity (east of France), Atmos. Environ., 195, 12–23, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2018.09.052, 2018.
Lewis, R. G. and Coutant, R. W.: Determination of phase-distributed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in air by grease-coated denuders, in: Gas and Particle Phase Measurements of Atmospheric Organic Compounds, CRC Press, 201–231, ISBN 90-5699-647-9, 2020.
Li, Y. and Wania, F.: Partitioning between polyurethane foam and the gas phase: Data compilation, uncertainty estimation and implications for air sampling, Environ. Sci. Process. Impacts, 23, 723–734, https://doi.org/10.1039/d1em00036e, 2021.
Li, Y., Armitage, J. M., and Wania, F.: Graphical tools for the planning and interpretation of polyurethane foam based passive air sampling campaigns, Environ. Sci. Process. Impacts, 24, 414–425, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00559F, 2022.
Li, Y., Zhan, F., Lei, Y. D., Shunthirasingham, C., Hung, H., and Wania, F.: Field calibration and PAS-SIM model evaluation of the XAD-based passive air samplers for semi-volatile organic compounds, Environ. Sci. Technol., 57, 9224–9233, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c00809, 2023a.
Li, Y., Zhan, F., Shunthirasingham, C., Lei, Y. D., Hung, H., and Wania, F.: Unbiased passive sampling of all polychlorinated biphenyls congeners from air, Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett., 10, 565–572, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00271, 2023b.
Lima, A. L. C., Farrington, J. W., and Reddy, C. M.: Combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the environment-a review, Environ. Forensics, 6, 109–131, https://doi.org/10.1080/15275920590952739, 2005.
Liu, Y. N., Tao, S., Dou, H., Zhang, T. W., Zhang, X. L., and Dawson, R.: Exposure of traffic police to Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Beijing, China, Chemosphere, 66, 1922–1928, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.07.076, 2007.
Mahoney, C., Montgomery, J., Connor, S., and Cobbaert, D.: Oil sands wetland ecosystem monitoring program indicators in Alberta, Canada: Transitioning from pilot to long-term monitoring, Water, 15, 1914, https://doi.org/10.3390/w15101914, 2023.
Masclet, P., Hoyau, V., Jaffrezo, J. L., and Cachier, H.: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon deposition on the ice sheet of Greenland. Part I: superficial snow, Atmos. Environ., 34, 3195–3207, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(99)00196-X, 2000.
Meierdierks, J., Zarfl, C., Beckingham, B., and Grathwohl, P.: Unique calibration of passive air sampling for field monitoring of PAHs with polyethylene thin films across seasons and locations, Environ. Sci. Atmos., 1, 253–266, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EA00022A, 2021.
Melymuk, L., Robson, M., Helm, P. A., and Diamond, M. L.: Evaluation of passive air sampler calibrations: Selection of sampling rates and implications for the measurement of persistent organic pollutants in air, Atmos. Environ., 45, 1867–1875, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.01.011, 2011.
Melymuk, L., Bohlin-Nizzetto, P., Prokeš, R., Kukučka, P., Přibylová, P., Vojta, Š., Kohoutek, J., Lammel, G., and Klánová, J.: Uncertainties in monitoring of SVOCs in air caused by within-sampler degradation during active and passive air sampling, Atmos. Environ., 167, 553–565, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.08.038, 2017.
Moradi, M., Hung, H., Li, J., Park, R., Shin, C., Alexandrou, N., Iqbal, M. A., Takhar, M., Chan, A., and Brook, J. R.: Assessment of alkylated and unsubstituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in air in urban and semi-urban areas in Toronto, Canada, Environ. Sci. Technol., 56, 2959–2967, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04299, 2022.
Moradi, M., Eng, A., Staebler, R., and Harner, T.: Atmospheric emissions estimation of polycyclic aromatic compounds from an oil sands tailings pond using passive air samplers, Chemosphere, 345, 140423, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140423, 2023.
Muir, D. C. G. and Galarneau, E.: Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in the Canadian environment: Links to global change, Environ. Pollut., 273, 116425, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116425, 2021.
Nikolaou, K., Masclet, P., and Mouvier, G.: Sources and chemical reactivity of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmosphere — A critical review, Sci. Total Environ., 32, 103–132, https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(84)90125-6, 1984.
Nolan, R. H., Anderson, L. O., Poulter, B., and Varner, J. M.: Increasing threat of wildfires: the year 2020 in perspective: A Global Ecology and Biogeography special issue, Glob. Ecol. Biogeogr., 31, 1898–1905, https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13588, 2022.
Pcchillips, D. H., Grover, P. L., and Sims, P.: A quantitative determination of the covalent binding of a series of polycylic hydrocarbons to dna in mouse skin, Int. J. Cancer, 23, 201–208, https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.2910230211, 1979.
Pitts, J. N., Lokensgard, D. M., Ripley, P. S., Van Cauwenberghe, K. A., Van Vaeck, L., Shaffer, S. D., Thill, A. J., and Belser, W. L.: “Atmospheric” Epoxidation of benzo[a]pyrene by ozone: Formation of the metabolite benzo[a]pyrene-4,5-oxide, Science, 210, 1347–1349, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.210.4476.1347, 1980.
Pozo, K., Estellano, V. H., Harner, T., Diaz-Robles, L., Cereceda-Balic, F., Etcharren, P., Pozo, K., Vidal, V., Guerrero, F., and Vergara-Fernández, A.: Assessing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using passive air sampling in the atmosphere of one of the most wood-smoke-polluted cities in Chile: The case study of Temuco, Chemosphere, 134, 475–481, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.04.077, 2015.
United Nations Environment Programme: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) – Assessment Report on Issues of Concern, 1–2, https://wedocs.unep.org/20.500.11822/41460 (last access: 20 September 2023), 2020.
Rauert, C., Harner, T., Ahad, J. M. E., and Percy, K. E.: Using tree cores to evaluate historic atmospheric concentrations and trends of polycyclic aromatic compounds in the Oil Sands region of Alberta, Canada, Sci. Total Environ., 739, 139996, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139996, 2020.
Ravindra, K., Wauters, E., and Van Grieken, R.: Variation in particulate PAHs levels and their relation with the transboundary movement of the air masses, Sci. Total Environ., 396, 100–110, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.02.018, 2008.
Sarma, S. N., Blais, J. M., and Chan, H. M.: Neurotoxicity of alkylated polycyclic aromatic compounds in human neuroblastoma cells, J. Toxicol. Env. Health, 80, 285–300, https://doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2017.1314840, 2017.
Schrlau, J. E., Geiser, L., Hageman, K. J., Landers, D. H., and Simonich, S. M.: Comparison of lichen, conifer needles, passive air sampling devices, and snowpack as passive sampling media to measure semi-volatile organic compounds in remote atmospheres, Environ. Sci. Technol., 45, 10354–10361, https://doi.org/10.1021/es202418f, 2011.
Schummer, C., Appenzeller, B. M., and Millet, M.: Monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmosphere of southern Luxembourg using XAD-2 resin-based passive samplers, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., 21, 2098–2107, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2106-y, 2014.
Shen, G., Tao, S., Wei, S., Zhang, Y., Wang, R., Wang, B., Li, W., Shen, H., Huang, Y., Yang, Y., Wang, W., Wang, X., and Simonich, S. L. M.: Retene emission from residential solid fuels in China and evaluation of retene as a unique marker for soft wood combustion, Environ. Sci. Technol., 46, 4666–4672, https://doi.org/10.1021/es300144m, 2012.
Shunthirasingham, C., Barra, R., Mendoza, G., Montory, M., Oyiliagu, C. E., Lei, Y. D., and Wania, F.: Spatial variability of atmospheric semivolatile organic compounds in Chile, Atmos. Environ., 45, 303–309, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.10.027, 2011.
Su, Y., Lei, Y. D., Wania, F., Shoeib, M., and Harner, T.: Regressing gas/particle partitioning data for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Environ. Sci. Technol., 40, 3558–3564, https://doi.org/10.1021/es052496w, 2006.
Su, Y., Wania, F., Harner, T., and Lei, Y. D.: Deposition of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to a boreal deciduous forest, Environ. Sci. Technol., 41, 534–540, https://doi.org/10.1021/es0622047, 2007a.
Su, Y., Wania, F., Ying, D. L., Harner, T., and Shoeib, M.: Temperature dependence of the air concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in a forest and a clearing, Environ. Sci. Technol., 41, 4655–4661, https://doi.org/10.1021/es070334p, 2007b.
Terzi, E. and Samara, C.: Gas-particle partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban, adjacent coastal, and continental background sites of western Greece, Environ. Sci. Technol., 38, 4973–4978, https://doi.org/10.1021/es040042d, 2004.
Tokiwa, H., Nakagawa, R., Morita, K., and Ohnishi, Y.: Mutagenicity of nitro derivatives induced by exposure of aromatic compounds to nitrogen dioxide, Mutat. Res. Mutagen. Relat. Subj., 85, 195–205, https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1161(81)90036-4, 1981.
Tromp, P. C., Beeltje, H., Okeme, J. O., Vermeulen, R., Pronk, A., and Diamond, M. L.: Calibration of polydimethylsiloxane and polyurethane foam passive air samplers for measuring semi volatile organic compounds using a novel exposure chamber design, Chemosphere, 227, 435–443, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.04.043, 2019.
UFZ-LSER: database v 3.2.1 [Internet] http://www.ufz.de/lserd, last access: 13 July 2022.
Van Vaeck, L. and Van Cauwenberghe, K.: Conversion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on diesel particulate matter upon exposure to ppm levels of ozone, Atmos. Environ., 18, 323–328, https://doi.org/10.1016/0004-6981(84)90106-9, 1984.
Wakeham, S. G., Schaffner, C., and Giger, W.: Poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in recent lake sediments – II. Compounds derived from biogenic precursors during early diagenesis, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 44, 415–429, 1980.
Wania, F. and Shunthirasingham, C.: Passive air sampling for semi-volatile organic chemicals, Environ. Sci. Process. Impacts, 22, 1925–2002, https://doi.org/10.1039/d0em00194e, 2020.
Wania, F., Shen, L., Lei, Y. D., Teixeira, C., and Muir, D. C. G.: Development and calibration of a resin-based passive sampling system for monitoring persistent organic pollutants in the atmosphere, Environ. Sci. Technol., 37, 1352–1359, https://doi.org/10.1021/es026166c, 2003.
Westgate, J. N., Shunthirasingham, C., Oyiliagu, C. E., von Waldow, H., and Wania, F.: Three methods for quantifying proximity of air sampling sites to spatially resolved emissions of semi-volatile organic contaminants, Atmos. Environ., 44, 4380–4387, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.07.051, 2010.
White, P. A.: The genotoxicity of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in complex mixtures, Mutat. Res. Toxicol. Environ. Mutagen., 515, 85–98, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1383-5718(02)00017-7, 2002.
Wnorowski, A., Aklilu, Y., Harner, T., Schuster, J., and Charland, J.-P.: Polycyclic aromatic compounds in ambient air in the surface minable area of Athabasca oil sands in Alberta (Canada), Atmos. Environ., 244, 117897, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117897, 2021.
Wnorowski, A., Harnish, D., Jiang, Y., Celo, V., Dabek-Zlotorzynska, E., and Charland, J. P.: Assessment and characterization of alkylated pahs in selected sites across Canada, Atmosphere, 13, 1–16, https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13081320, 2022.
World Health Organization: Selected Non-Heterocyclic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons – Environmental Health Criteria 202, World Health Organization, Geneva, 1–899, ISBN 92-4-1572027, 1998.
Xu, S., Liu, W., and Tao, S.: Emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in China, Environ. Sci. Technol., 40, 702–708, https://doi.org/10.1021/es0517062, 2006.
Zhang, X. and Wania, F.: Modeling the uptake of semivolatile organic compounds by passive air samplers: importance of mass transfer processes within the porous sampling media, Environ. Sci. Technol., 46, 9563–9570, https://doi.org/10.1021/es302334r, 2012.
Zhang, X., Tsurukawa, M., Nakano, T., Lei, Y. D., and Wania, F.: Sampling medium side resistance to uptake of semivolatile organic compounds in passive air samplers, Environ. Sci. Technol., 45, 10509–10515, https://doi.org/10.1021/es2032373, 2011.
Zhang, X., Wong, C., Lei, Y. D., and Wania, F.: Influence of sampler configuration on the uptake kinetics of a passive air sampler, Environ. Sci. Technol., 45, 397–403, https://doi.org/10.1021/es203292x, 2012.
Zhou, S., Hwang, B. C. H., Lakey, P. S. J., Zuend, A., Abbatt, J. P. D., and Shiraiwa, M.: Multiphase reactivity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is driven by phase separation and diffusion limitations, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 116, 11658–11663, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1902517116, 2019.
Zhou, Z. and Abbatt, J. P. D.: Formation of gas-phase hydrogen peroxide via multiphase ozonolysis of unsaturated lipids, Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett., 8, 114–120, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00757, 2021.
Short summary
A simple device for sampling gases from the atmosphere without the help of pumps was calibrated for an important group of hazardous air pollutants called polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs). While the sampler appeared to perform well when used for relatively short periods of up to several months, some PACs were lost from the sampler during longer deployments. Sampling rates that can be used to quantitatively interpret the quantities of PACs taken up in the device have been derived.
A simple device for sampling gases from the atmosphere without the help of pumps was calibrated...
