Exploring sources of biogenic secondary organic aerosol compounds using chemical analysis and the FLEXPART model

• Published in: Atmospheric chemistry and physics Vol. 17; no. 18; pp. 11025 - 11040
• Main Authors: Martinsson, Johan, Monteil, Guillaume, Sporre, Moa K., Kaldal Hansen, Anne Maria, Kristensson, Adam, Eriksson Stenström, Kristina, Swietlicki, Erik, Glasius, Marianne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Katlenburg-Lindau Copernicus GmbH 18.09.2017; Copernicus; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Aerosols; Air masses; Atmospheric aerosols; Atmospheric gases; Bridges; Carbon; Carboxylic acids; Chemical analysis; Chemical compounds; Chemical properties; Chemical speciation; Coniferous forests; Earth and Related Environmental Sciences; Environmental aspects; Fatty acids; Forests; Geovetenskap och relaterad miljövetenskap; Meteorologi och atmosfärsvetenskap; Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences; Methods; Monoterpenes; Natural Sciences; Naturvetenskap; Organic compounds; Oxidation; Photooxidation; Pimelic acid; Secondary aerosols; Speciation; Terpenes; Trace analysis; Tracers; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Scandinavia; Sweden; Europe
• ISSN: 1680-7324; 1680-7316; 1680-7324
• DOI: 10.5194/acp-17-11025-2017

Molecular tracers in secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) can provide information on origin of SOA, as well as regional scale processes involved in their formation. In this study 9 carboxylic acids, 11 organosulfates (OSs) and 2 nitrooxy organosulfates (NOSs) were determined in daily aerosol particle filter samples from Vavihill measurement station in southern Sweden during June and July 2012. Several of the observed compounds are photo-oxidation products from biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). Highest average mass concentrations were observed for carboxylic acids derived from fatty acids and monoterpenes (12. 3 ± 15. 6 and 13. 8 ± 11. 6 ng m−3, respectively). The FLEXPART model was used to link nine specific surface types to single measured compounds. It was found that the surface category sea and ocean was dominating the air mass exposure (56 %) but contributed to low mass concentration of observed chemical compounds. A principal component (PC) analysis identified four components, where the one with highest explanatory power (49 %) displayed clear impact of coniferous forest on measured mass concentration of a majority of the compounds. The three remaining PCs were more difficult to interpret, although azelaic, suberic, and pimelic acid were closely related to each other but not to any clear surface category. Hence, future studies should aim to deduce the biogenic sources and surface category of these compounds. This study bridges micro-level chemical speciation to air mass surface exposure at the macro level.