Mutual Impact of Mineral and Organic Components in Atmospheric Aerosol

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The effect of ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4) on the condensation of low-volatile organic compounds in atmospheric aerosol is considered. Using the UNIFAC...     

Modeling the Regional Influence of Ions on Aerosol Formation in the Atmosphere

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The results of numerical calculations of the variability of number concentrations of aerosol particles of different sizes and the rates of ion-induced...     

The role of sulfate aerosol in the formation of cloudiness over the sea

We estimate the impact of sulfate aerosols on cloudiness formation over the sea in the middle troposphere and the involvement of these particles in the formation of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) in the lower stratosphere. The first of these problems is solved using a combined model of moist convection and the formation of cloudiness and sulfate aerosols in the troposphere and lower stratosphere over the sea, incorporating natural emissions of sulfur-containing compounds. We have found that a significant source of condensation nuclei in the troposphere is the photochemical transformation of biogenic dimethyl sulfide (in addition to NaCl). The results of numerical experiments indicate that the absence of sulfate aerosols hinders the cloudiness formation over the sea in the middle and upper troposphere. The problem of sulfate aerosol involvement in the formation of supercooled ternary solutions (STSs) (PSC Type Ib) in the lower stratosphere is solved using a mathematical model of global transport of multicomponent gas pollutants and aerosols in the atmosphere. Using the combined model, numerical experiments were performed for the winter season in both hemispheres. Sulfate aerosols were found to really participate in the formation of STS particles. Without their participation, the formation of STS particles in the lower stratosphere would be hindered. We present the results of numerical calculations and discuss the distribution of concentrations of gaseous nitric and sulfuric acids, as well as mass concentrations of these components in STS particles.     

Hydrocarbonates in atmospheric precipitation of Moscow: Monitoring data and analysis

Based on atmospheric precipitation monitoring data for Moscow, we have revealed a number of episodes when the content of hydrocarbonates repeatedly surpasses the equilibrium level. These facts are associated with the complex structure of precipitation, which is caused by differences in the chemical composition of condensation nuclei. As a result, the underlying surface involves two groups of drops with acidities of different nature. The acidity of the first (“metal”) group is determined by the carbonate equilibrium with atmospheric CO₂ and dissolved carbonates of alkaline and alkaline earth metals. The acidity of the second (“ammonium”) group is characterized by the balance between ammonia absorbed from the air and atmospheric acids. Because of this, the precipitation acidity measured during the monitoring is regulated not only in the air but also in the condensate collector. The mixing of the metal and ammonium groups of precipitation is accompanied by only a partial conversion of hydrocarbonates into dissolved CO₂. Its termination is hindered when CO₂ actually ceases to enter the atmosphere due to mass-exchange deceleration. As a result, the content of hydrocarbonates in the collector exceeds the equilibrium level. Some estimates indicate that the acidity of the ammonia component of precipitation can be much higher than the acidity according to monitoring data. This should be taken into account in estimating the health and environmental impacts. The true level of acid rain hazard can be estimated only by measuring the acidity of individual drops, whereas the results obtained with modern tools of monitoring can underestimate this hazard.     

On the Nature of Aerosol Particles in the Atmosphere of Irkutsk

Monitoring data on the ion composition of precipitation and the water-soluble fraction of aerosol have been used to identify two types of aerosol particles in the surface atmosphere of Irkutsk (“metal” and “ammonia” groups). The aerosol acidity is basically governed by the acidity of ammonia particles, and the ion composition depends on air relative humidity (RH). Preliminary estimates are given for the distribution of major cations and anions by aerosol groups.     

Modeling the Influence of Ions on the Dynamics of Formation of Atmospheric Aerosol

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - This paper describes a new numerical model of transport and transformation of gaseous and aerosol species in the atmosphere incorporating...     

Seasonal Variability of the Ion Composition,Phase State,and Mass Concentration of Aerosol in the Rural and Urban Atmosphere over Belgium (2001–2003)

Field data on the ion composition and mass concentration of aerosol in the rural (Wingene) and urban (Antwerp) regions of Belgium and the results of their thermodynamic analysis are presented. Ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate are found to be the major water-soluble components of aerosol particles. The seasonal variability of mass concentration, phase state, and ion composition of aerosol particles is largely determined by variations in temperature and relative humidity. It is shown that the content of ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate in PM2.5 is close to their thermodynamic equilibrium concentrations.     

Modeling the convective cloudiness and its impact on the atmospheric gaseous composition

A combined three-dimensional numerical model of convective cloudiness with detailed microphysics and a model of the transport of atmospheric trace gases with gas- and aqueous-phase chemistry were developed. We consider the main physical mechanisms responsible for the formation of midsized droplet clouds and the transport of gases with differing solubility therein. Test numerical calculations were performed to investigate the sensitivity of the cloud model to variations in input parameters, as well as the variability of the ion composition of cloud drops with regard to their size distribution. The results of numerical calculations are presented with a preliminary analysis.     

Dynamics of trace gases and aerosols in the atmosphere with consideration for heterogeneous processes

A combined mathematical model has been developed to reproduce space and time variations in the concentrations of multicomponent gas constituents and aerosols in the atmosphere on both regional and urban scales. This model contains blocks of transport of gas constituents and aerosols in the atmosphere with consideration for homogeneous binary nucleation, the kinetic processes of condensation/evaporation and coagulation, chemical processes occurring in both gas and liquid phases, and the processes of mass exchange during the gas-droplet (particle) interaction. A nonhydrostatic model of atmospheric mesoscale processes is used to calculate the fields of meteorological elements and turbulent characteristics. The generation of new-phase particles from precursor gases by the mechanism of homogeneous binary nucleation and their interaction with background aerosol are considered. The results of numerical experiments are compared with the data obtained from field observations of both space and time variations in the concentrations of gas constituents and aerosols and in the ionic content of aerosol particles over the Baikal region under the influence of emissions from powerful industrial sources.