Seasonality of Formic Acid (HCOOH) in London during the ClearfLo Campaign

Bannan, Thomas J.; Murray Booth, A.; Le Breton, Michael; Bacak, Asan; Muller, Jennifer B. A.; Leather, Kimberley E.; Khan, M. Anwar H.; Lee, James D.; Dunmore, Rachel E.; Hopkins, James R.; Fleming, Zoë L.; Sheps, Leonid; Taatjes, Craig A.; Shallcross, Dudley E.; Percival, Carl J.

doi:10.1002/2017JD027064

Title: Seasonality of Formic Acid (HCOOH) in London during the ClearfLo Campaign

Journal Article · Fri Nov 24 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JD027064· OSTI ID:1410365

^[1]; Murray Booth, A. ^[1]; Le Breton, Michael ^[1]; Bacak, Asan ^[1]; Muller, Jennifer B. A. ^[1]; Leather, Kimberley E. ^[1];

^[2]; Lee, James D. ^[3];

^[4]; Hopkins, James R. ^[3]; Fleming, Zoë L. ^[5]; Sheps, Leonid ^[6];

^[6];

^[2]; Percival, Carl J. ^[7]

Centre for Atmospheric Science, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Science University of Manchester Manchester UK
Biogeochemistry Research Centre, School of Chemistry University of Bristol Bristol UK
National Centre for Atmospheric Science University of York York UK, Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry University of York York UK
Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry University of York York UK
National Centre for Atmospheric Science, Department of Chemistry University of Leicester Leicester UK
Combustion Research Facility Sandia National Laboratories Livermore CA USA
Centre for Atmospheric Science, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Science University of Manchester Manchester UK, Now at Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA USA

Abstract Following measurements in the winter of 2012, formic acid (HCOOH) and nitric acid (HNO ₃ ) were measured using a chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS) during the Summer Clean Air for London (ClearfLo) campaign in London, 2012. Consequently, the seasonal dependence of formic acid sources could be better understood. A mean formic acid concentration of 1.3 ppb and a maximum of 12.7 ppb was measured which is significantly greater than that measured during the winter campaign (0.63 ppb and 6.7 ppb, respectively). Daily calibrations of formic acid during the summer campaign gave sensitivities of 1.2 ion counts s ⁻¹ parts per trillion (ppt) by volume ⁻¹ and a limit of detection of 34 ppt. During the summer campaign, there was no correlation between formic acid and anthropogenic emissions such as NO _x and CO or peaks associated with the rush hour as was identified in the winter. Rather, peaks in formic acid were observed that correlated with solar irradiance. Analysis using a photochemical trajectory model has been conducted to determine the source of this formic acid. The contribution of formic acid formation through ozonolysis of alkenes is important but the secondary production from biogenic VOCs could be the most dominant source of formic acid at this measurement site during the summer.

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Research Organization:: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

OSTI ID:: 1410365

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1410366; OSTI ID: 1414437

Report Number(s):: SAND-2017-13269J

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Vol. 122 Journal Issue: 22; ISSN 2169-897X

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 12 works

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