Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions
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2007
10.5194/acpd-7-14139-2007
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/14139/2007/
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/14139/2007/acpd-7-14139-2007.html
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/14139/2007/acpd-7-14139-2007.pdf
14139
14169
2007-10-05
Ammonia at Blodgett Forest, Sierra Nevada, USA
M. L. Fischer and D. Littlejohn
Environmental Energy Technologies Division, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley CA, 94720, USA
Ammonia is a reactive trace gas that is emitted in large quantities by
animal agriculture and other sources in California, which subsequently forms
aerosol particulate matter, potentially affecting visibility, climate, and
human health. We performed initial measurements of NH<sub>3</sub> at the Blodgett
Forest Research Station (BFRS) during a two week study in June, 2006. The
site is used for ongoing air quality research and is a relatively
low-background site in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Measured NH<sub>3</sub>
mixing ratios were quite low (<1 to ~2 ppb), contrasting with
typical conditions in many parts of the Central Valley. Eddy covariance
measurements showed NH<sub>3</sub> fluxes that scaled with measured NH<sub>3</sub>
mixing ratio and calculated aerodynamic deposition velocity, suggesting dry
deposition is a significant loss mechanism for atmospheric NH<sub>3</sub> at BFRS.
A simple model of NH<sub>3</sub> transport to the site supports the hypothesis
that NH<sub>3</sub> is transported from the Valley to BFRS, but deposits on
vegetation during the summer. Further work is necessary to determine whether
the results obtained in this study can be generalized to other seasons.
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