Abstract
Intense and frequent new particle formation (NPF) events have been observed in polluted urban environments, yet the dominant mechanisms are still under debate. To understand the key species and governing processes of NPF in polluted urban environments, we conducted comprehensive measurements in downtown Beijing during January–March, 2018. We performed detailed analyses on sulfuric acid cluster composition and budget, as well as the chemical and physical properties of oxidized organic molecules (OOMs). Our results demonstrate that the fast clustering of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and base molecules triggered the NPF events, and OOMs further helped grow the newly formed particles toward climate- and health-relevant sizes. This synergistic role of H2SO4, base species, and OOMs in NPF is likely representative of polluted urban environments where abundant H2SO4 and base species usually co-exist, and OOMs are with moderately low volatility when produced under high NOx concentrations.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e2020GL091944 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Geophysical Research Letters |
Volume | 48 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2021 |
Publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Funding
The work is supported by Academy of Finland via the Center of Excellence in Atmospheric Sciences (project no. 272041, 316114, 311932, and 315203) and European Research Council via ATM-GTP 266 (742206), CHAPAs (850614) and BLACARAT (615922), National Natural Science Foundation of China (41730106, 21876094, 91644213, and 92044301), and Samsung PM2.5 SRP. NMD and MS are supported by the US NSF grant AGS-1801897. LW thanks the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFC0209505 and 2017YFC0209503). The work is supported by Academy of Finland via the Center of Excellence in Atmospheric Sciences (project no. 272041, 316114, 311932, and 315203) and European Research Council via ATM‐GTP 266 (742206), CHAPAs (850614) and BLACARAT (615922), National Natural Science Foundation of China (41730106, 21876094, 91644213, and 92044301), and Samsung PM SRP. NMD and MS are supported by the US NSF grant AGS‐1801897. LW thanks the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFC0209505 and 2017YFC0209503). 2.5
Keywords
- atmospheric particles
- new particle formation
- oxygenated organic molecules
- sulfuric acid
Publication forum classification
- Publication forum level 2
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geophysics
- General Earth and Planetary Sciences