Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
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2009
10.5194/acp-9-7435-2009
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/7435/2009/
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/7435/2009/acp-9-7435-2009.html
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/7435/2009/acp-9-7435-2009.pdf
7435
7448
2009-10-07
Sulfuric acid and OH concentrations in a boreal forest site
T. Petäjä
tuukka.petaja@helsinki.fi
R. L. Mauldin, III
E. Kosciuch
J. McGrath
T. Nieminen
P. Paasonen
M. Boy
A. Adamov
T. Kotiaho
M. Kulmala
Division of Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysics, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
Atmospheric Chemistry Division, Earth and Sun Systems Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-5000, USA
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0311, USA
Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry Department of Chemistry, A.I. Virtasenaukio 1, P.O. Box 55, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
Faculty of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, P.O. Box 56, Viikinkaari 5E, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
As demonstrated in a number of investigations, gaseous sulfuric acid
plays a central role in atmospheric aerosol formation. Using
chemical ionization mass spectrometer the gas-phase sulfuric acid
and OH concentration were measured in Hyytiälä, SMEAR II
station, Southern Finland during 24 March to 28 June 2007. Clear
diurnal cycles were observed as well as differences between new
particle formation event days and non-event days. Typically, the
daily maximum concentrations of gas phase sulfuric acid varied from
3×10<sup>5</sup> to 2×10<sup>6</sup> molec cm<sup>−3</sup> between
non-event and event days. Noon-time OH concentrations varied from
3-6×10<sup>5</sup> molec cm<sup>−3</sup> and not a clear difference
between event and non-events was detected. The measured time series
were also used as a foundation to develop reasonable proxies for
sulfuric acid concentration. The proxies utilized source and sink
terms, and the simplest proxy is radiation times sulfur dioxide
divided by condensation sink. Since it is still challenging to
measure sulfuric acid in ambient concentrations, and due to its
significant role in atmospheric particle formation, reasonable
proxies are needed. We use all together three different proxies and
one chemical box model and compared their results to the measured
data. The proxies for the sulfuric acid concentration worked
reasonably well, and will be used to describe sulfuric acid
concentrations in SMEAR II station, when no measured sulfuric acid
data is available. With caution the proxies could be applied to
other environments as well.
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