ALBERT

Description: Recently several field campaigns and satellite observations have found strong indications for the presence of bromine oxide (BrO) in the free troposphere. Using a global atmospheric chemistry transport model we show that BrO mixing ratios of a few tenths to 2 pmol mol-1 lead to a reduction in the zonal mean O3 mixing ratio of up to 18% in widespread areas and regionally up to 40% compared to a model run without bromine chemistry. A lower limit approach for the marine boundary layer, that does not explicitly include the release of halogens from sea salt aerosol, shows that for dimethyl sulfide (DMS) the effect is even larger, with up to 60% reduction of its tropospheric column. This is accompanied by dramatic changes in DMS oxidation pathways, reducing its cooling effect on climate. In addition there are changes in the HO2:OH ratio that also affect NOx and PAN. These results imply that potentially significant strong sinks for O3 and DMS have so far been ignored in many studies of the chemistry of the troposphere.

Description: We studied the oxidation of dimethylsulfide (DMS) in the marine boundary layer (MBL) with a one-dimensional numerical model and focused on the influence of halogens. Our model runs show that there is still significant uncertainty about the end products of the DMS addition pathway, which is especially caused by uncertainty in the product yield of the reaction of the intermediate product methyl sulfinic acid (MSIA) with OH. BrO strongly increases the importance of the addition branch in the oxidation of DMS even when present at mixing ratios smaller than 0.5pmol mol-1. The inclusion of halogen chemistry leads to higher DMS oxidation rates and smaller DMS to SO2 conversion efficiencies. The DMS to SO2 conversion efficiency is also drastically reduced under cloudy conditions. In cloud-free model runs between 5 and 15% of the oxidized DMS reacts further to particulate sulfur, in cloudy runs this fraction is almost 100%. Sulfate production by HOClaq and HOBraq is important in cloud droplets even for small Br- deficits and related small gas phase halogen concentrations. In general, more particulate sulfur is formed when halogen chemistry is included. A possible enrichment of HCO3- in fresh sea salt aerosol would increase pH values enough to make the reaction of S(IV)* (=SO2,aq+HSO3-+SO32-) with O3 dominant for sulfate production. It leads to a shift from methyl sulfonic acid (MSA) to non-sea salt sulfate (nss-SO42-) production but increases the total nss-SO42- only somewhat because almost all available sulfur is already oxidized to particulate sulfur in the base scenario. We discuss how realistic this is for the MBL. We found the reaction MSAaq+OH to contribute about 10% to the production of nss-SO42- in clouds. It is unimportant for cloud-free model runs. Overall we find that the presence of halogens leads to processes that decrease the albedo of stratiform clouds in the MBL.

Description: Halogen species (HCl* (primarily HCl), Cl* (including Cl2 and HOCl), BrO, total gaseous inorganic Br and size-resolved particulate Cl- and Br -) and related chemical and physical parameters were measured in surface air at Oahu, Hawaii during September 1999. Aerosol pH as a function of particle size was inferred from phase partitioning and thermodynamic properties of HCl. Mixing ratios of halogen compounds and aerosol pHs were simulated with a new version of the photochemical box model MOCCA that considers multiple aerosol size bins. Inferred aerosol pHs ranged from 4.5 to 5.4 (median 5.1, n=22) for super-mm (primarily sea-salt) size fractions and 2.6 to 5.3 (median 4.6) for sub-mm (primarily sulphate) fractions. Inferred daytime pHs tended to be slightly lower than those at night, although daytime median values did not differ statistically from nighttime medians. Simulated pHs for most sea-salt size bins were within the range of inferred values. However, simulated pHs for the largest size fraction in the model were somewhat higher (oscillating around 5.9) due to the rapid turnover rates and relatively larger infusions of sea-salt alkalinity associated with fresh aerosols. Measured mixing ratios of HCl* ranged from

Description: During the MINOS campaign (28 July-18 August 2001) the nitrate (NO3) radical was measured at Finokalia station, on the north coast of Crete in South-East Europe using a long path (10.4 km) Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy instrument (DOAS). Hydroxyl (OH) radical was also measured by a Chemical Ionization Mass-Spectrometer (Berresheim et al., 2003). These datasets represent the first simultaneous measurements of OH and NO3 radicals in the area. NO3 radical concentrations ranged from less than 3x107 up to 9x108 radicals· cm-3 with an average nighttime value of 1.1x108 radicals· cm-3. The observed NO3 mixing ratios are analyzed on the basis of the corresponding meteorological data and the volatile organic compound (VOC) observations which were measured simultaneously at Finokalia station. The importance of the NO3 radical chemistry relatively to that of OH in the dimethylsulfide (DMS) and nitrate cycles is also investigated. The observed NO3 levels regulate the nighttime variation of DMS. The loss of DMS by NO3 during night is about 75% of that by OH radical during day. NO3 and nitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) reactions account for about 21% of the total nitrate (HNO3(g)+NO-3(g)) production.

Description: In previous reports on isotopic fractionation in the ultraviolet photolysis of nitrous oxide (N2O) only enrichments of heavy isotopes in the remaining N2O fraction have been found. However, most direct photolysis experiments have been performed at wavelengths far from the absorption maximum at 182 nm. Here we present high-precision measurements of the 15N and 18O fractionation constants (ε) in photolysis at 185 nm. Small, but statistically robust depletions of heavy isotopes for the terminal atoms in the linear N2O molecule are found. This means that the absorption cross sections σ(15N 14N 16O) and σ(14N218O) are larger than σ(14N216O) at this specific wavelength. In contrast, the central N atom becomes enriched in 15N. The corresponding fractionation constants (±1 standard deviation) are 15ε1 = σ(15N 14N 16O)/σ(14N2 16O) - 1 = (3.7±0.2) %o 18ε = σ(14N218O)/σ(14N216O) - 1 = (4.5±0.2) %o  and 15ε2 = σ(14N 15N 16O)/σ(14N216O) - 1 = (-18.6±0.5) %o To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of such a heavy isotope depletion in the photolysis of N2O which supports theoretical models and pioneering vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopic measurements of 15N substituted N2O species that predict fluctuations of ε around zero in this spectral region (Selwyn and Johnston, 1981). Such a variability in isotopic fractionation could have consequences for atmospheric models of N2O isotopes since actinic flux varies also strongly over narrow wavelength regions between 175 and 200 nm due to the Schumann-Runge bands of oxygen. However, the spacing between maxima and minima of the fractionation constants and of the actinic flux differ by two orders of magnitude in the wavelength domain. The wavelength dependence of fractionation constants in N2O photolysis can thus be approximated by a linear fit with negligible consequences on the actual value of the spectrally averaged fractionation constant. In order to establish this linear fit, additional measurements at wavelengths other than 185 nm were made using broadband light sources, namely D2, Hg/Xe and Sb lamps. The latter lamp was used in conjunction with various interference filters to shift the peak photolysis rate to longer wavelengths. From these experiments and existing data in the literature, a comprehensive picture of the wavelength dependence of N2O photolysis near room-temperature is created.

Description: The chemical evolution of the exhaust plumes of ocean-going ships in the cloud-free marine boundary layer is examined with a box model. Dilution of the ship plume via entrainment of background air was treated as in studies of aircraft emissions and was found to be a very important process that significantly alters model results. We estimated the chemical lifetime (defined as the time when differences between plume and background air are reduced to 5% or less) of the exhaust plume of a single ship to be 2 days. Increased concentrations of NOx (= NO + NO2) in the plume air lead to higher catalytical photochemical production rates of O3 and also of OH. Due to increased OH concentrations in the plume, the lifetime of many species (especially NOx) is significantly reduced in plume air. The chemistry on background aerosols has a significant effect on gas phase chemistry in the ship plume, while partly soluble ship-produced aerosols are computed to only have a very small effect. Soot particles emitted by ships showed no effect on gas phase chemistry. Halogen species that are released from sea salt aerosols are slightly increased in plume air. In the early plume stages, however, the mixing ratio of BrO is decreased because it reacts rapidly with NO. To study the global effects of ship emissions we used a simple upscaling approach which suggested that the parameterization of ship emissions in global chemistry models as a constant source at the sea surface leads to an overestimation of the effects of ship emissions on O3 of about 50% and on OH of roughly a factor of 2. The differences are mainly caused by a strongly reduced lifetime (compared to background air) of NOxin the early stages of a ship plume.

Description: The cycling of inorganic bromine in the marine boundary layer (mbl) has received increased attention in recent years. Bromide, a constituent of sea water, is injected into the atmosphere in association with sea-salt aerosol by breaking waves on the ocean surface. Measurements reveal that supermicrometer sea-salt aerosol is substantially depleted in bromine (often exceeding 50%) relative to conservative tracers, whereas marine submicrometer aerosol is often enriched in bromine. Model calculations, laboratory studies, and field observations strongly suggest that the supermicrometer depletions reflect the chemical transformation of particulate bromide to reactive inorganic gases that influence the processing of ozone and other important constituents of marine air. Mechanisms for the submicrometer enrichments are not well understood. Currently available techniques cannot reliably quantify many Br containing compounds at ambient concentrations and, consequently, our understanding of inorganic Br cycling over the oceans and its global significance are uncertain. To provide a more coherent framework for future research, we have reviewed measurements in marine aerosol, the gas phase, and in rain. We also summarize sources and sinks, as well as model and laboratory studies of chemical transformations. The focus is on inorganic bromine over the open oceans outside the polar regions. The generation of sea-salt aerosol at the ocean surface is the major tropospheric source producing about 6.2 Tg/a of bromide. The transport of Br from continents (as mineral aerosol, and as products from biomass-burning and fossil-fuel combustion) can be of local importance. Transport of degradation products of long-lived Br containing compounds from the stratosphere and other sources contribute lesser amounts. Available evidence suggests that, following aerosol acidification, sea-salt bromide reacts to form Br2 and BrCl that volatilize to the gas phase and photolyze in daylight to produce atomic Br and Cl. Subsequent transformations can destroy tropospheric ozone, oxidize dimethylsulfide (DMS) and hydrocarbons in the gas phase and S(IV) in aerosol solutions, and thereby potentially influence climate. The diurnal cycle of gas-phase Br and the corresponding particulate Br deficits are correlated. Higher values of Br in the gas phase during daytime are consistent with expectations based on photochemistry. We expect that the importance of inorganic Br cycling will vary in the future as a function of both increasing acidification of the atmosphere (through anthropogenic emissions) and climate changes. The latter affects bromine cycling via meteorological factors including global wind fields (and the associated production of sea-salt aerosol), temperature, and relative humidity.

Description: Using the proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) technique, acetonitrile was measured during the wet season in a Venezuelan woodland savanna. The site was located downwind of the Caribbean Sea and no biomass burning events were observed in the region. High boundary layer concentrations of 211±36pmol/mol (median, ±standard deviation) were observed during daytime in the well mixed boundary layer, which is about 60pmol/mol above background concentrations recently measured over the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Most likely acetonitrile is released from the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea thereby enhancing mixing ratios over Venezuela. Acetonitrile concentrations will probably still be much higher in biomass burning plumes, however, the general suitability of acetonitrile as a biomass burning marker should be treated with care. During nights, acetonitrile dropped to levels typically around 120pmol/mol, which is consistent with a dry deposition velocity of 0.14cm/s when a nocturnal boundary layer height of 100m is assumed.

Description: Only a few previous observations of very low O3 mixing ratios in the upper troposphere are available. The aim of this study was to examine the rich MOZAIC data set for more. Flights with at least 25 4 s averaged mixing ratios less than 8 ppbv at pressures lower than 500 hPa measured using commercial aircraft within the MOZAIC project have been analysed. There are eleven flights that fulfil these conditions (excluding artefacts as discussed below), representing about 0.001% of all measurements during the analysed period August 1994-December 1997. The low O3 events occurred over Southeast Asia, Africa, Brazil and the sea area 200 km east of Florida (US) and were all likely to be associated with transport of air masses from tropical sea areas. These low mixing ratio events occur in the upper troposphere during periods with generally low mixing ratios. They are not only found over sea, but also over land at pressure levels as low as 179 hPa. It could well be that some of the low O3 mixing ratio events measured during two or more flights belong to the same bigger low O3 mixing ratio area.