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20193
20221
2008-12-03
Sulfuric acid and OH concentrations in a boreal forest site
T. Petäjä
tuukka.petaja@helsinki.fi
R. L. Mauldin, III
E. Kosciuch
J. McGrath
T. Nieminen
M. Boy
A. Adamov
T. Kotiaho
M. Kulmala
Division of Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysics, Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
Atmospheric Chemistry Division, Earth and Sun Systems Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-5000, USA
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0311, USA
Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 55, A.I. Virtasenaukio 1, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
Faculty of Pharmacy Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, Viikinkaari 5E, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
As demonstrated in a number of investigations, gaseous sulfuric acid
plays a central role in atmospheric aerosol formation. Using
chemical ionization mass spectrometer the gas-phase sulfuric acid
and OH concentration were measured in Hyytiälä, SMEAR II
station, Southern Finland during 24 March to 28 June 2007. Clear
diurnal cycles were observed as well as differences between new
particle formation event days and non-event days. The typical daily
maximum concentrations of gas phase sulfuric acid varied from
3·10<sup>5</sup> to 2·10<sup>6</sup> molec cm<sup>−3</sup> between
non-event and event days. Noon-time OH concentrations varied from
3–6·10<sup>5</sup> molec cm<sup>−3</sup> and not a clear difference
between event and non-events was detected. Since it is still
challenging to measure sulfuric acid, and due to its significant
role in atmospheric particle formation, three different proxies and
one chemical box model calculation were compared to the measured
data. The proxies for the sulfuric acid concentration worked
reasonably, and with caution, could be applied to other
environments.
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