Contribution of Isoprene Oxidation Products to Marine Aerosol over the North-East Atlantic. (4th July 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Anttila, Tatu; Langmann, Baerbel; Varghese, Saji; O'Dowd, Colin
• Other Names: Stetzer Olaf Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Advances in meteorology. Volume 2010(2010)
• Publication Date: 2010-07-04
• Subjects: Meteorology -- Periodicals; Meteorology; Periodicals; 551.505
• DOI: 10.1155/2010/482603
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-9309

Abstract

Abstract : Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation through isoprene oxidation was investigated with the regional-scale climate model REMOTE. The applied modeling scheme includes a treatment for marine primary organic aerosol emissions, aerosol microphysics, and SOA formation through the gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile, water-soluble oxidation products. The focus was on SOA formation taking place over the North-East Atlantic during a period of high biological activity. Isoprene SOA concentrations were up to ~5 ngm − 3 over North Atlantic in the base case model runs, and isoprene oxidation made a negligible contribution to the marine organic aerosol (OA) mass. In particular, isoprene SOA did not account for the observed water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) concentrations over North Atlantic. The performed model calculations, together with results from recent field measurements, imply a missing source of SOA over remote marine areas unless the isoprene oxidation products are considerably less volatile than the current knowledge indicates.