Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 5 6 2005 10.5194/acpd-5-11143-2005 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/5/11143/2005/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/5/11143/2005/acpd-5-11143-2005.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/5/11143/2005/acpd-5-11143-2005.pdf 11143 11156 2005-11-02 Isoprene oxidation products are a significant atmospheric aerosol component S. N. Matsunaga smatsu@ucar.edu C. Wiedinmyer A. B. Guenther J. J. Orlando T. Karl D. W. Toohey J. P. Greenberg Y. Kajii Applied Chemistry Division, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-Ohsawa, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0397, Japan Atmospheric Chemistry Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, 1850 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, CO 80305, USA Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Program in Environmental Studies, University of Colorado, Stadium 255, 311 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, USA Glycolaldehyde, hydroxyacetone, and methylglyoxal, which are known isoprene oxidation products, were collected during two field experiments using an annular denuder sampling system and compared to a model calculation. The compounds in gas and aerosol phases were determined during both experiments. Global variation and distribution of the aerosol mass contribution of the compounds were predicted using the measurements, the box model results, and gas-phase concentrations and humidity simulated by a global 3-D model. Here we report the estimates of a global annual contribution of 35 (10–120) Tg of aerosol organic matter from isoprene.