Atmospheric measurements at Mt. Tai – Part I: HONO formation and its role in the oxidizing capacity of the upper boundary layer

• Published in: Atmospheric chemistry and physics 2022-03, Vol.22 (5), p.3149-3167
• Main Authors: Xue, Chaoyang, Ye, Can, Kleffmann, Jörg, Zhang, Chenglong, Catoire, Valéry, Bao, Fengxia, Mellouki, Abdelwahid, Xue, Likun, Chen, Jianmin, Lu, Keding, Zhao, Yong, Liu, Hengde, Guo, Zhaoxin, Mu, Yujing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols; Air mass transport; Air masses; Air pollution; Altitude; Atmospheric chemistry; Atmospheric models; Boundary layers; Chemical reaction, Rate of; Daytime; Electricity distribution; Engineering Sciences; Feet; Ground stations; Kinetics; Laboratories; Mass transport; Measurement; Mixing ratio; Mountain winds; Mountains; Nitrates; Oxidation; Parameter sensitivity; Parameters; Photochemistry; Photolysis; Pollution dispersion; Reactive fluid environment; Uptake; Vertical advection; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Winds
• ISSN: 1680-7324; 1680-7316; 1680-7324
• DOI: 10.5194/acp-22-3149-2022

A comprehensive field campaign, with measurements of HONO and related parameters, was conducted in summer 2018 at the foot (150 m a.s.l.) and the summit (1534 m a.s.l.) of Mt. Tai (Shandong province, China). At the summit station, high HONO mixing ratios were observed (mean ± 1Ï: 133 ± 106 pptv, maximum: 880 pptv), with a diurnal noontime peak (mean ± 1Ï: 133 ± 72 pptv at 12:30 local time). Constraints on the kinetics of aerosol-derived HONO sources (NO.sub.2 uptake on the aerosol surface and particulate nitrate photolysis) were performed and discussed, which enables a better understanding of the interaction of HONO and aerosols, especially in the polluted North China Plain. Various evidence of air mass transport from the ground to the summit level was provided. Furthermore, daytime HONO formation from different paths and its role in radical production were quantified and discussed.