Secondary organic aerosols: formation potential and ambient data.
Organic aerosols comprise a significant fraction of the total atmospheric particle loading and are associated with radiative forcing and health impacts. Ambient organic aerosol concentrations contain both a primary and secondary component. Herein, fractional aerosol coefficients (FAC) are used in conjunction with measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOC) to predict the formation potential of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in the Lower Fraser Valley (LFV) of British Columbia. The predicted concentrations of SOA show reasonable accord with ambient aerosol measurements and indicate considerable seasonal variability in SOA potential. Particulate carbon contributes only approx. 3% of total carbon concentrations in the LFV, and it is shown that variability in total carbon concentrations is significantly larger than variability in gas/particle partitioning.
Barthelmie
R J
RJ
Department of Geography, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405, USA.
Pryor
S C
SC
D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000397:Air Pollution; D001955:British Columbia; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D012621:Seasons; D014835:Volatilization
D000336:Aerosols; D009930:Organic Chemicals