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The Time Evolution of Aerosol Composition Over the Mexico City Plateau

Journal Article · · Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
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  1. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
  2. SUNY, Old Westbury, NY (United States)
  3. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  4. Aerodyne Research Inc., Billerica, MA (United States)
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The time evolution of aerosol concentration and chemical composition in a megacity urban plume was determined based on 8 flights of the DOE G-1 aircraft in and downwind of Mexico City during the March 2006 MILAGRO field campaign. A series of selection criteria are imposed to eliminate data points with non-urban emission influences. Biomass burning has urban and non-urban sources that are distinguished on the basis of CH3CN and CO. In order to account for dilution in the urban plume, aerosol concentrations are normalized to CO which is taken as an inert tracer of urban emission, proportional to the emissions of aerosol precursors. Time evolution is determined with respect to photochemical age defined as -Log10 (NOx/NOy). The geographic distribution of photochemical age and CO is examined, confirming the picture that Mexico City is a source region and that pollutants become more dilute and aged as they are advected towards T1 and T2, surface sites that are located at the fringe of the City and 35 km to the NE, respectively. Organic aerosol (OA) per ppm CO is found to increase 7 fold over the range of photochemical ages studied, corresponding to a change in NOx/NOy from nearly 100% to 10%.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
926513
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA--59745; 15893; KP1205030
Journal Information:
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Journal Name: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 8; ISSN 1680-7316
Publisher:
European Geosciences Union
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory