title: Important source of marine secondary organic aerosol from biogenic amines.
abstract: Relevant concentrations of dimethyl- and diethylammonium salts (DMA+ and DEA+) were measured in submicrometer marine aerosol collected over the North Atlantic during periods of high biological activity (HBA) in clean air masses (median concentration (minimum-maximum)=26(6-56) ng m(-3)). Much lower concentrations were measured during periods of low biological activity (LBA): 1 (<0.4-20) ng m(-3) and when polluted air masses were advected to the sampling site: 2 (<0.2-24) ng m(-3). DMA+ and DEA+ are the most abundantorganic species, second only to MSA, detected in fine marine particles representing on average 11% of the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) fraction and a dominant part (35% on average) of the water-soluble organic nitrogen (WSON). Several observations support the hypothesis that DMA+ and DEA+ have a biogenic oceanic source and are produced through the reaction of gaseous amines with sulfuric acid or acidic sulfates. Moreover, the water-soluble fraction of nascent marine aerosol particles produced by bubble-bursting experiments carried out in parallel to ambient aerosol sampling over the open ocean showed WSON, DMA+, and DEA+ concentrations always below the detection limit, thus excluding an important primary sea spray source.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, National Research Council, Bologna, I-40129, Italy. mc.facchini@isac.cnr.it
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Facchini
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Decesari
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Finessi
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mircea
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuzzi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tagliavini
authors.forename: Darius
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ceburnis
authors.forename: Colin D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: O'Dowd
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis*; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000737:chemistry*; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000737:chemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D001679:Biogenic Amines; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D014867:Water