The effects of biogenic hydrocarbons on the transformation of nitrogen oxides in the troposphere

Journal Article · Mon Aug 20 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD095iD09p14027· OSTI ID:6061613

Atherton, C S; Penner, J E ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)

The reactive odd nitrogen chemistry is examined for environments both typical of the urban troposphere and in which biogenic hydrocarbon emissions are appreciable. Results are presented in terms of a nitrogen shortfall, X/NO{sub y}, the fraction of reactive nitrogen present as species other than NO, NO{sub 2}, HNO{sub 3}, NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}}, and peroxyacetyl nitrate. In urban environments, the calculated nitrogen shortfall is 0.02-0.33. Both higher initial hydrocarbon concentrations and higher initial hydrocarbon-to-NO{sub x} ratios lead to greater shortfalls, with the latter effect being more important. Products of biogenic hydrocarbon emissions greatly increase the nitrogen shortfall in urban air that has aged for 48 hours. The nitrogen shortfall increases from 0.25 for a simulation with background isoprene and pinene emissions to 0.45 for a scenario with high pinene emissions. In addition, two sensitivity studies which examine the stability of nitrate species formed from the biogenic hydrocarbons are also presented. These show that for their scenarios, the stability of ISON, a species formed during isoprene oxidation can change the calculated nitrogen shortfall by 0.15. However, the stability of nitrates from the reactions of isoprene and pinene with NO{sub 3} changes the calculated nitrogen shortfall by only 0.05.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6061613
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA) Vol. 95:D9; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AGE DEPENDENCE
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
DIENES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ESTERS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXYL RADICALS
INORGANIC ACIDS
ISOPRENE
NITRATES
NITRIC ACID
NITRIC ACID ESTERS
NITRIC OXIDE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PEROXYACETYL NITRATE
POLYENES
RADICALS
TROPOSPHERE
URBAN AREAS