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Enhanced secondary organic aerosol formation due to water uptake by fine particles

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hennigan, CJ; Bergin, MH; Dibb, JE; Weber, RJ
Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
September 28, 2008

This study characterizes the partitioning behavior of a significant fraction of the ambient organic aerosol through simultaneous measurements of gas and particle water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). During the summer in Atlanta, WSOC gas/particle partitioning showed a strong RH dependence that was attributed to particulate liquid water. At elevated RH levels (>∼70%), a significant increase in WSOC partitioning to the particle phase was observed and followed the predicted water uptake by fine particles. The enhancement in particle-phase partitioning translated to increased median particle WSOC concentrations ranging from 0.3-0.9 μg C m-3. The results provide a detailed overview of the WSOC partitioning behavior in the summertime in an urban region dominated by biogenic emissions, and indicate that secondary organic aerosol formation involving partitioning to liquid water may be a significant aerosol formation route that is generally not considered. Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Geophysical Research Letters

DOI

ISSN

0094-8276

Publication Date

September 28, 2008

Volume

35

Issue

18

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
 

Citation

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Hennigan, C. J., Bergin, M. H., Dibb, J. E., & Weber, R. J. (2008). Enhanced secondary organic aerosol formation due to water uptake by fine particles. Geophysical Research Letters, 35(18). https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL035046
Hennigan, C. J., M. H. Bergin, J. E. Dibb, and R. J. Weber. “Enhanced secondary organic aerosol formation due to water uptake by fine particles.” Geophysical Research Letters 35, no. 18 (September 28, 2008). https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL035046.
Hennigan CJ, Bergin MH, Dibb JE, Weber RJ. Enhanced secondary organic aerosol formation due to water uptake by fine particles. Geophysical Research Letters. 2008 Sep 28;35(18).
Hennigan, C. J., et al. “Enhanced secondary organic aerosol formation due to water uptake by fine particles.” Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 35, no. 18, Sept. 2008. Scopus, doi:10.1029/2008GL035046.
Hennigan CJ, Bergin MH, Dibb JE, Weber RJ. Enhanced secondary organic aerosol formation due to water uptake by fine particles. Geophysical Research Letters. 2008 Sep 28;35(18).
Journal cover image

Published In

Geophysical Research Letters

DOI

ISSN

0094-8276

Publication Date

September 28, 2008

Volume

35

Issue

18

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences