Carbonyl compounds in the lower marine troposphere over the Caribbean Sea and Bahamas

Journal Article · Mon Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JC02772· OSTI ID:7064648

Zhou, Xianliang; Mopper, K ^[1]

---

1. Univ. of Miami, FL (United States)

Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, and butanone were measured in 59 samples of marine air. Average clean air background concentrations were about 0.55, 0.50, 0.38, and 0.03 ppbv, respectively, in agreement with past measurements. The formaldehyde concentration is also in agreement with that predicted from photooxidation of methane and other locally derived organic matter. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde showed strong diurnal variations throughout the 12-day sampling period. Photochemical oxidation of locally derived organic matter, such as nonmethane hydrocarbons and long-chained lipids, appears to be the major source for both formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in the lower marine boundary layer. Acetone, on the other hand, showed weaker diurnal fluctuations, consistent with its significantly longer lifetime in the trophosphere. Sinks for carbonyl compounds in the lower marine boundary layer are less clearly known. The results suggest that photolysis, reaction with free radicals, and deposition at the sea surface are minor, short-term sinks during the study. The main sink appears to be vertical mixing, probably followed by photolysis in the upper marine boundary layer and free troposphere. 34 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 7064648
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 98:C2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACETALDEHYDE
DAILY VARIATIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ACETONE
FORMALDEHYDE
AIR
AIR-WATER INTERACTIONS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CARBON CYCLE
CARBONYL RADICALS
CARIBBEAN SEA
DEPOSITION
FLUCTUATIONS
GREENHOUSE GASES
HYDROCARBONS
LIFETIME
LIPIDS
METHANE
MIXING
ORGANIC MATTER
OXIDATION
PHOTOLYSIS
RADICALS
SAMPLING
SINKS
TROPOSPHERE
VARIATIONS
ALDEHYDES
ALKANES
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DECOMPOSITION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
FLUIDS
GASES
KETONES
MATTER
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)