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search.filters.applied.f.access: openAccess × Author: Wiedensohler, A. × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2010 × Subject: air quality × Subject: condensation × Subject: sulfur dioxide × WGL Institute: TROPOS ×

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    Measurements of gaseous H2SO4 by AP-ID-CIMS during CAREBeijing 2008 Campaign
    (München : European Geopyhsical Union, 2011) Zheng, J.; Hu, M.; Zhang, R.; Yue, D.; Wang, Z.; Guo, S.; Li, X.; Bohn, B.; Shao, M.; He, L.; Huang, X.; Wiedensohler, A.; Zhu, T.
    As part of the 2008 Campaign of Air Quality Research in Beijing and Surrounding Regions (CAREBeijing 2008), measurements of gaseous sulfuric acid (H2SO4) have been conducted at an urban site in Beijing, China from 7 July to 25 September 2008 using atmospheric pressure ion drift – chemical ionization mass spectrometry (AP-ID-CIMS). This represents the first gaseous H2SO4 measurements in China. Diurnal profile of sulfuric acid is strongly dependent on the actinic flux, reaching a daily maximum around noontime and with an hourly average concentration of 5 × 106 molecules cm−3. Simulation of sulfuric acid on the basis of the measured sulfur dioxide concentration, photolysis rates of ozone and nitrogen dioxide, and aerosol surface areas captures the trend of the measured H2SO4 diurnal variation within the uncertainties, indicating that photochemical production and condensation onto preexisting particle surface dominate the observed diurnal H2SO4 profile. The frequency of the peak H2SO4 concentration exceeding 5 × 106 molecules cm−3 increases by 16 % during the period of the summer Olympic Games (8–24 August 2008), because of the implementation of air quality control regulations. Using a multivariate statistical method, the critical nucleus during nucleation events is inferred, containing two H2SO4 molecules (R2 = 0.85). The calculated condensation rate of H2SO4 can only account for 10–25 % of PM1 sulfate formation, indicating that either much stronger sulfate production exists at the SO2 source region or other sulfate production mechanisms are responsible for the sulfate production.
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    Changes in the production rate of secondary aerosol particles in Central Europe in view of decreasing SO2 emissions between 1996 and 2006
    (München : European Geopyhsical Union, 2010) Hamed, A.; Birmili, W.; Joutsensaari, J.; Mikkonen, S.; Asmi, A.; Wehner, B.; Spindler, G.; Jaatinen, A.; Wiedensohler, A.; Korhonen, H.; Lehtinen, K.E.J.; Laaksonen, A.
    In anthropogenically influenced atmospheres, sulphur dioxide (SO2) is the main precursor of gaseous sulphuric acid (H2SO4), which in turn is a main precursor for atmospheric particle nucleation. As a result of socio-economic changes, East Germany has seen a dramatic decrease in anthropogenic SO2 emissions between 1989 and present, as documented by routine air quality measurements in many locations. We have attempted to evaluate the influence of changing SO2 concentrations on the frequency and intensity of new particle formation (NPF) using two different data sets (1996–1997; 2003–2006) of experimental particle number size distributions (diameter range 3–750 nm) from the atmospheric research station Melpitz near Leipzig, Germany. Between the two periods SO2 concentrations decreased by 65% on average, while the frequency of NPF events dropped by 45%. Meanwhile, the average formation rate of 3 nm particles decreased by 68% on average. The trends were statistically significant and therefore suggest a connection between the availability of anthropogenic SO2 and freshly formed new particles. In contrast to the decrease in new particle formation, we found an increase in the mean growth rate of freshly nucleated particles (+22%), suggesting that particle nucleation and subsequent growth into larger sizes are delineated with respect to their precursor species. Using three basic parameters, the condensation sink for H2SO4, the SO2 concentration, and the global radiation intensity, we were able to define the characteristic range of atmospheric conditions under which particle formation events take place at the Melpitz site. While the decrease in the concentrations and formation rates of the new particles was rather evident, no similar decrease was found with respect to the generation of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN; particle diameter >100 nm) as a result of atmospheric nucleation events. On the contrary, the production of CCN following nucleation events appears to have increased by tens of percents. Our aerosol dynamics model simulations suggest that such an increase can be caused by the increased particle growth rate.