Theoretical and experimental study of peroxy and alkoxy radicals in the NO3-initiated oxidation of isoprene

Under atmospheric conditions, nitrate-RO₂ radicals are equilibrated and react predominantly with HO₂, RO₂ and NO. The nitrate-RO chemistry is affected strongly by ring closure to epoxy radicals, impeding formation of MVK/MACR.

Experimental and theoretical study on the impact of a nitrate group on the chemistry of alkoxy radicals

The chemistry of nitrated alkoxy radicals, and its impact on RO₂ measurements using the laser induced fluorescence (LIF) technique, is examined by a combined theoretical and experimental study.

Environmental conditions regulate the impact of plants on cloud formation

The terrestrial vegetation emits large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the atmosphere, which on oxidation produce secondary organic aerosol (SOA). By acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), SOA influences cloud formation and climate. In a warming climate, changes in environmental factors can cause stresses to plants, inducing changes of the emitted VOC. These can modify particle size and composition. Here we report how induced emissions eventually affect CCN activity of SOA, a key parameter in cloud formation. For boreal forest tree species, insect infestation by aphids causes additional VOC emissions which modifies SOA composition thus hygroscopicity and CCN activity. Moderate heat increases the total amount of constitutive VOC, which has a minor effect on hygroscopicity, but affects CCN activity by increasing the particles' size. The coupling of plant stresses, VOC composition and CCN activity points to an important impact of induced plant emissions on cloud formation and climate.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted by vegetation influence cloud formation, yet the impact of environmental stresses remains little known. Here, manipulation experiments reveal insect infestation and heat stress are linked to induced VOC and constitutive VOC emissions shifts, respectively.

Ambient and laboratory observations of organic ammonium salts in PM1

Ambient measurements of PM₁aerosol chemical composition at Cabauw, the Netherlands, implicate higher ammonium concentrations than explained by the formation of inorganic ammonium salts. This additional particulate ammonium is called excess ammonium (e_NH4). Height profiles over the Cabauw Experimental Site for Atmospheric Research (CESAR) tower, of combined ground based and airborne aerosol mass spectrometric (AMS) measurements on a Zeppelin airship show higher concentrations ofe_NH4at higher altitudes compared to the ground. Through flights across the Netherlands, the Zeppelin based measurements furthermore substantiatee_NH4as a regional phenomenon in the planetary boundary layer. The excess ammonium correlates with mass spectral signatures of (di-)carboxylic acids, making a heterogeneous acid–base reaction the likely process of NH₃uptake. We show that this excess ammonium was neutralized by the organic fraction forming particulate organic ammonium salts. We discuss the significance of such organic ammonium salts for atmospheric aerosols and suggest that NH₃emission control will have benefits for particulate matter control beyond the reduction of inorganic ammonium salts.