Katja Džepina (Author), Christopher D. Cappa (Author), Rainer Volkamer (Author), Sasha Madronich (Author), P. F. DeCarlo (Author), Rahul A. Zaveri (Author), Jose L. Jimenez (Author)

Abstract

In this study, we apply several recently proposed models to the evolution of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) and organic gases advected from downtown Mexico City at: an altitude of similar to 3.5 km during three days of aging, in a way that is directly comparable to simulations in regional and global models. We constrain the model with and compare its results to available observations. The model SOA formed from oxidation of volatile organic compounds (V-SOA) when using a non-aging SOA parameterization cannot explain the observed SOA concentrations in aged pollution, despite the increasing importance of the low-NO, channel. However, when using an aging SOA parameterization, V-SOA alone is similar to the regional aircraft observations, highlighting the wide diversity in current V-SOA formulations. When the SOA formed from oxidation of semivolatile and intermediate volatility organic vapors (SI-SOA) is computed following Robinson et al. (2007) the model matches the observed SOA mass, but its 0/C is similar to 2 x too low. With the parameterization of Grieshop et al. (2009), the total SOA mass is similar to 2 x too high, but 0/C and volatility are closer to the observations. Heating or dilution cause the evaporation of a substantial fraction of the model SOA; this fraction is reduced by aging although differently for heating vs dilution. Lifting of the airmass to the free-troposphere during dry convection substantially increases SOA by condensation of semivolatile vapors; this effect is reduced by aging.

Keywords

Mexico City;volatility;semivolatile;transport;campaign;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UNG - University of Nova Gorica
UDC: 54
COBISS: 59047171 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 0013-936X
Views: 1287
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Other data

URN: URN:SI:UNG
Pages: str. 3496-3503
Volume: ǂVol. ǂ45
Issue: ǂiss. ǂ8
Chronology: 2011
DOI: 10.1021/es103186f
ID: 12757738