AAAR 31st Annual Conference
October 8-12, 2012
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Abstract View
Measurement of Halyomorpha Halys (Brown Marmorated Stink Bug) Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds and Their Role in Secondary Aerosol Formation
Danielle Solomon, DABRINA DUTCHER, Timothy Raymond, Bucknell University
Abstract Number: 747 Working Group: Aerosols, Clouds, and Climate
Abstract The oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) is a significant source of atmospheric aerosols, yet there is still much to be learned about their sources, and interactions and reactivity. The brown marmorated stink bug is a newly established invasive species of stink bug spreading throughout the United States. Due to the lack of natural predators and lack of approved agricultural pesticides this species has achieved a significant number density in many regions and is even causing significant crop losses. The aims of this project were to identify and quantify the BVOCs found in the defense pheromones of the brown marmorated stink bug and to determine whether these BVOCs would oxidize in the presence of ozone to nucleate and form aerosol particles. Several compounds were identified in the BVOC emissions of brown marmorated stink bug by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. These identified compounds include Tridecane, 5-Ethyl-2(5H)-furanone, and E-2-Decenal. In the presence of ~100 ppb ozone the emissions of brown marmorated stink bug oxidized to form aerosol particles. This reaction resulted in 0.2 micrograms/cubic meter/bug of particle mass concentration. It was also found that these secondary organic aerosol particles could act as cloud condensation nuclei.