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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Photocurrent modelling and experimental confirmation for meteoric smoke particle detectors on board atmospheric sounding rockets
    (Katlenburg-Lindau : Copernicus, 2018-9-20) Giono, Gabriel; Strelnikov, Boris; Asmus, Heiner; Staszak, Tristan; Ivchenko, Nickolay; Lübken, Franz-Josef
    Characterising the photoelectron current induced by the Sun's UV radiation is crucial to ensure accurate daylight measurements from particle detectors. This article lays out the methodology used to address this problem in the case of the meteoric smoke particle detectors (MSPDs), developed by the Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Kühlungsborn (IAP) and flown on board the PMWEs (Polar Mesosphere Winter Echoes) sounding rockets in April 2018. The methodology focuses on two complementary aspects: modelling and experimental measurements. A detailed model of the MSPD photocurrent was created based on the expected solar UV flux, the atmospheric UV absorption as a function of height by molecular oxygen and ozone, the photoelectric yield of the material coating the MSPD as a function of wavelength, the index of refraction of these materials as a function of wavelength and the angle of incidence of the illumination onto the MSPD. Due to its complex structure, composed of a central electrode shielded by two concentric grids, extensive ray-tracing calculations were conducted to obtain the incidence angles of the illumination on the central electrode, and this was done for various orientations of the MSPD in respect to the Sun. Results of the modelled photocurrent at different heights and for different materials, as well as for different orientations of the detector, are presented. As a pre-flight confirmation, the model was used to reproduce the experimental measurements conducted by Robertson et al. (2014) and agrees within an order of magnitude. An experimental setup for the calibration of the MSPD photocurrent is also presented. The photocurrent induced by the Lyman-alpha line from a deuterium lamp was recorded inside a vacuum chamber using a narrowband filter, while a UV-sensitive photodiode was used to monitor the UV flux. These measurements were compared with the model prediction, and also matched within an order of magnitude. Although precisely modelling the photocurrent is a challenging task, this article quantitatively improved the understanding of the photocurrent on the MSPD and discusses possible strategies to untangle the meteoric smoke particles (MSPs) current from the photocurrent recorded in-flight.
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    Highly active and selective photochemical reduction of CO2 to CO using molecular-defined cyclopentadienone iron complexes
    (Cambridge : Soc., 2015) Rosas-Hernández, Alonso; Alsabeh, Pamela G.; Barsch, Enrico; Junge, Hernrik; Ludwig, Ralf; Beller, Matthias
    Herein, we report highly active (cyclopentadienone)iron–tricarbonyl complexes for CO2 photoreduction using visible light with an Ir complex as photosensitizer and TEOA as electron/proton donor. Turnover numbers (TON) of ca. 600 (1 h) with initial turnover frequencies (TOF) up to 22.2 min−1 were observed. Operando FTIR measurements allowed for the proposal of a plausible mechanism for catalyst activation.
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    Few-cycle laser driven reaction nanoscopy on aerosolized silica nanoparticles
    ([London] : Nature Publishing Group UK, 2019) Rupp, Philipp; Burger, Christian; Kling, Nora G; Kübel, Matthias; Mitra, Sambit; Rosenberger, Philipp; Weatherby, Thomas; Saito, Nariyuki; Itatani, Jiro; Alnaser, Ali S.; Raschke, Markus B.; Rühl, Eckart; Schlander, Annika; Gallei, Markus; Seiffert, Lennart; Fennel, Thomas; Bergues, Boris; Kling, Matthias F.
    Nanoparticles offer unique properties as photocatalysts with large surface areas. Under irradiation with light, the associated near-fields can induce, enhance, and control molecular adsorbate reactions on the nanoscale. So far, however, there is no simple method available to spatially resolve the near-field induced reaction yield on the surface of nanoparticles. Here we close this gap by introducing reaction nanoscopy based on three-dimensional momentum-resolved photoionization. The technique is demonstrated for the spatially selective proton generation in few-cycle laser-induced dissociative ionization of ethanol and water on SiO2 nanoparticles, resolving a pronounced variation across the particle surface. The results are modeled and reproduced qualitatively by electrostatic and quasi-classical mean-field Mie Monte-Carlo (M3C) calculations. Reaction nanoscopy is suited for a wide range of isolated nanosystems and can provide spatially resolved ultrafast reaction dynamics on nanoparticles, clusters, and droplets.
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    Unravelling New Processes at Interfaces: Photochemical Isoprene Production at the Sea Surface
    (Columbus, Ohio : American Chemical Society, 2015) Ciuraru, Raluca; Fine, Ludovic; van Pinxteren, Manuela; D’Anna, Barbara; Herrmann, Hartmut; George, Christian
    Isoprene is an important reactive gas that is produced mainly in terrestrial ecosystems but is also produced in marine ecosystems. In the marine environment, isoprene is produced in the seawater by various biological processes. Here, we show that photosensitized reactions involving the sea-surface microlayer lead to the production of significant amounts of isoprene. It is suggested that H-abstraction processes are initiated by photochemically excited dissolved organic matter which will the degrade fatty acids acting as surfactants. This chemical interfacial processing may represent a significant abiotic source of isoprene in the marine boundary layer.
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    Instrumentation and Measurement Strategy for the NOAA SENEX Aircraft Campaign as Part of the Southeast Atmosphere Study 2013
    (Katlenburg-Lindau : Copernicus, 2016) Warneke, C.; Trainer, M.; de Gouw, J.A.; Parrish, D.D.; Fahey, D.W.; Ravishankara, A.R.; Middlebrook, A.M.; Brock, C.A.; Roberts, J.M.; Brown, S.S.; Neuman, J.A.; Lerner, B.M.; Lack, D.; Law, D.; Hübler, G.; Pollack, I.; Sjostedt, S.; Ryerson, T.B.; Gilman, J B; Liao, J.; Holloway, J.; Peischl, J.; Nowak, J.B.; Aikin, K.; Min, K.-E.; Washenfelder, R.A.; Graus, M.G.; Richardson, M.; Markovic, M.Z.; Wagner, N.L.; Welti, A.; Veres, P.R.; Edwards, P.; Schwarz, J.P.; Gordon, T.; Dube, W.P.; McKeen, S.; Brioude, J.; Ahmadov, R.; Bougiatioti, A.; Lin, J.J.; Nenes, A.; Wolfe, G.M.; Hanisco, T.F.; Lee, B.H.; Lopez-Hilfiker, F.D.; Thornton, J.A.; Keutsch, F.N.; Kaiser, J.; Mao, J.; Hatch, C.
    Natural emissions of ozone-and-aerosol-precursor gases such as isoprene and monoterpenes are high in the southeast of the US. In addition, anthropogenic emissions are significant in the Southeast US and summertime photochemistry is rapid. The NOAA-led SENEX (Southeast Nexus) aircraft campaign was one of the major components of the Southeast Atmosphere Study (SAS) and was focused on studying the interactions between biogenic and anthropogenic emissions to form secondary pollutants. During SENEX, the NOAA WP-3D aircraft conducted 20 research flights between 27 May and 10 July 2013 based out of Smyrna, TN. Here we describe the experimental approach, the science goals and early results of the NOAA SENEX campaign. The aircraft, its capabilities and standard measurements are described. The instrument payload is summarized including detection limits, accuracy, precision and time resolutions for all gas-and-aerosol phase instruments. The inter-comparisons of compounds measured with multiple instruments on the NOAA WP-3D are presented and were all within the stated uncertainties, except two of the three NO2 measurements. The SENEX flights included day- and nighttime flights in the Southeast as well as flights over areas with intense shale gas extraction (Marcellus, Fayetteville and Haynesville shale). We present one example flight on 16 June 2013, which was a daytime flight over the Atlanta region, where several crosswind transects of plumes from the city and nearby point sources, such as power plants, paper mills and landfills, were flown. The area around Atlanta has large biogenic isoprene emissions, which provided an excellent case for studying the interactions between biogenic and anthropogenic emissions. In this example flight, chemistry in and outside the Atlanta plumes was observed for several hours after emission. The analysis of this flight showcases the strategies implemented to answer some of the main SENEX science questions.
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    Sources, seasonality, and trends of southeast US aerosol: an integrated analysis of surface, aircraft, and satellite observations with the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model
    (Katlenburg-Lindau : EGU, 2015) Kim, P.S.; Jacob, D.J.; Fisher, J.A.; Travis, K.; Yu, K.; Zhu, L.; Yantosca, R.M.; Sulprizio, M.P.; Jimenez, J.L.; Campuzano-Jost, P.; Froyd, K.D.; Liao, J.; Hair, J.W.; Fenn, M.A.; Butler, C.F.; Wagner, N.L.; Gordon, T.D.; Welti, A.; Wennberg, P.O.; Crounse, J.D.; St. Clair, J.M.; Teng, A.P.; Millet, D.B.; Schwarz, J.P.; Markovic, M.Z.; Perring, A.E.
    We use an ensemble of surface (EPA CSN, IMPROVE, SEARCH, AERONET), aircraft (SEAC4RS), and satellite (MODIS, MISR) observations over the southeast US during the summer–fall of 2013 to better understand aerosol sources in the region and the relationship between surface particulate matter (PM) and aerosol optical depth (AOD). The GEOS-Chem global chemical transport model (CTM) with 25 × 25 km2 resolution over North America is used as a common platform to interpret measurements of different aerosol variables made at different times and locations. Sulfate and organic aerosol (OA) are the main contributors to surface PM2.5 (mass concentration of PM finer than 2.5 μm aerodynamic diameter) and AOD over the southeast US. OA is simulated successfully with a simple parameterization, assuming irreversible uptake of low-volatility products of hydrocarbon oxidation. Biogenic isoprene and monoterpenes account for 60 % of OA, anthropogenic sources for 30 %, and open fires for 10 %. 60 % of total aerosol mass is in the mixed layer below 1.5 km, 25 % in the cloud convective layer at 1.5–3 km, and 15 % in the free troposphere above 3 km. This vertical profile is well captured by GEOS-Chem, arguing against a high-altitude source of OA. The extent of sulfate neutralization (f = [NH4+]/(2[SO42−] + [NO3−]) is only 0.5–0.7 mol mol−1 in the observations, despite an excess of ammonia present, which could reflect suppression of ammonia uptake by OA. This would explain the long-term decline of ammonium aerosol in the southeast US, paralleling that of sulfate. The vertical profile of aerosol extinction over the southeast US follows closely that of aerosol mass. GEOS-Chem reproduces observed total column aerosol mass over the southeast US within 6 %, column aerosol extinction within 16 %, and space-based AOD within 8–28 % (consistently biased low). The large AOD decline observed from summer to winter is driven by sharp declines in both sulfate and OA from August to October. These declines are due to shutdowns in both biogenic emissions and UV-driven photochemistry. Surface PM2.5 shows far less summer-to-winter decrease than AOD and we attribute this in part to the offsetting effect of weaker boundary layer ventilation. The SEAC4RS aircraft data demonstrate that AODs measured from space are consistent with surface PM2.5. This implies that satellites can be used reliably to infer surface PM2.5 over monthly timescales if a good CTM representation of the aerosol vertical profile is available.