10th International Aerosol Conference
September 2 - September 7, 2018
America's Center Convention Complex
St. Louis, Missouri, USA

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Vertical Characterization of Highly Oxygenated Molecules (HOM) Below and Above a Boreal Forest Canopy

QIAOZHI ZHA, Chao Yan, Heikki Junninen, Matthieu Riva, Juho Aalto, Lauriane Quéléver, Simon Schallhart, Lubna Dada, Liine Heikkinen, Otso Peräkyla, Jun Zou, Clemence Rose, Yonghong Wang, Ivan Mammarella, Timo Vesala, Douglas Worsnop, Gabriel Katul, Markku Kulmala, Tuukka Petäjä, Federico Bianchi, Mikael Ehn, University of Helsinki

     Abstract Number: 946
     Working Group: Aerosol Chemistry

Abstract
Highly oxygenated molecules (HOM) play important roles in new particle formation (NPF) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, and therefore have significant effect on air quality, global radiation budget, and climate. In addition to the efforts that have been made in understanding the formation mechanisms of HOMs, increased attention has been drawn to the interaction between HOM chemistry and changing atmospheric conditions.

During the Influence of Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions on the Reactive Nitrogen budget (IBAIRN) campaign, vertical profile measurements of HOMs below and above the forest canopy were performed using two nitrate ion based Chemical Ionization Atmospheric Pressure interface Time-Of-Flight (CI-APi-TOF) mass spectrometers, for the first time in the boreal forest SMEAR II station during September 2016. The HOM concentrations and composition distributions below and above the canopy were similar in the well-mixed boundary layer condition during daytime. Surprisingly, during night, even though precursor monoterpene concentrations are elevated, much lower HOM concentrations were observed at ground level, as a result of the formation of a shallow decoupled layer attached to the forest floor. The results suggested that near ground HOMs were affected by the changes in the precursors and oxidants, and enhancement of the loss/deposition on surfaces in this layer, while the HOMs above the canopy top were not significantly affected.

One of the main novelties of our study is the detailed measurements of HOM below and above the canopy across a wide range of atmospheric stability conditions. The results highlight the significance of near-ground boundary layer dynamics and micrometeorological processes to the ambient HOMs, and the ground-based HOM measurement are not always representative for the entire boundary layer. This needs to be considered when interpreting measurements that are expected to be influenced by HOM, such as growth rates of new particles.