References

ACPD

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions

ACPD

1680-7375

Copernicus GmbH

Göttingen, Germany

10.5194/acpd-8-20193-2008

Sulfuric acid and OH concentrations in a boreal forest site

Petäjä

¹ ² Mauldin, III

R. L.

² Kosciuch

² McGrath

² ³ Nieminen

¹ Boy

¹ Adamov

⁴ Kotiaho

⁴ ⁵ 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

03 12 2008

8 6 20193 20221

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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 3·105 to 2·106 molec cm−3 between non-event and event days. Noon-time OH concentrations varied from 3–6·105 molec cm−3 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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