Water-soluble organic nitrogen in Amazon Basin aerosols during the dry (biomass burning) and wet seasons

2003 ◽  
Vol 108 (D16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly A. Mace
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Dry Biomass ◽  
Soluble Organic Nitrogen

Increases in the formation of water soluble organic nitrogen during Asian dust storm episodes

2021 ◽  
Vol 253 ◽  
pp. 105486
Author(s):  
Qingyang Liu ◽  
Yanjiu Liu ◽  
Qiang Zhao ◽  
Tingting Zhang ◽  
James J. Schauer
Keyword(s):  
Dust Storm ◽  
Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Asian Dust ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Asian Dust Storm ◽  
Soluble Organic Nitrogen

scholarly journals Atmospheric Water Soluble Organic Nitrogen (WSON) over marine environments: a global perspective

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 11361-11389 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Violaki ◽  
J. Sciare ◽  
J. Williams ◽  
A. R. Baker ◽  
M. Martino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Marine Atmosphere ◽  
Marine Aerosols ◽  
Total Dissolved Nitrogen ◽  
Comprehensive Picture ◽  
Soluble Organic Nitrogen

Abstract. To obtain a comprehensive picture on the spatial distribution of water soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) in marine aerosols, samples were collected during research cruises in the tropical and south Atlantic Ocean and during a one year period (2005) over the southern Indian Ocean (Amsterdam island). Samples have been analyzed for both organic and inorganic forms of nitrogen and the factors controlling their levels have been examined. Fine mode WSON was found to play a significant role in the remote marine atmosphere with enhanced biogenic activity, with concentrations of WSON (11.3 ± 3.3 nmol N m–3) accounting for about 84% of the total dissolved nitrogen (TDN). Such levels are similar to those observed in the polluted marine atmosphere of the eastern Mediterranean (11.6 ± 14.0 nmol N m–3). Anthropogenic activities were found to be an important source of atmospheric WSON as evidenced by the ten times higher levels in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) than in the remote Southern Hemisphere (SH). Furthermore, the higher contribution of WSON to TDN (40%) in the SH, compared to the NH (20%), underlines the important role of organic nitrogen in remote marine areas. Finally, Sahara dust was also identified as a significant source of WSON in the coarse mode aerosols of the NH.

Origin of the water-soluble organic nitrogen in the maritime aerosol

2017 ◽  
Vol 167 ◽  
pp. 97-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoshi Matsumoto ◽  
Yuya Yamamoto ◽  
Kotaro Nishizawa ◽  
Naoki Kaneyasu ◽  
Tomohisa Irino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Organic Nitrogen

scholarly journals Real-time measurements of ammonia, acidic trace gases and water-soluble inorganic aerosol species at a rural site in the Amazon Basin

2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 967-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Trebs ◽  
F. X. Meixner ◽  
J. Slanina ◽  
R. Otjes ◽  
P. Jongejan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Rural Site ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Inlet System ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Inorganic Aerosol

Abstract. We measured the mixing ratios of ammonia (NH3), nitric acid (HNO3), nitrous acid (HONO), hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfur dioxide (SO2 and the corresponding water-soluble inorganic aerosol species, ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), nitrite (NO2-), chloride (Cl- and sulfate (SO42-), and their diel and seasonal variations at a pasture site in the Amazon Basin (Rondônia, Brazil). This study was conducted within the framework of LBA-SMOCC (Large Scale Biosphere Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia - Smoke Aerosols, Clouds, Rainfall and Climate: Aerosols from Biomass Burning Perturb Global and Regional Climate). Sampling was performed from 12 September to 14 November 2002, extending from the dry season (extensive biomass burning activity), through the transition period to the wet season (background conditions). Measurements were made continuously using a wet-annular denuder (WAD) in combination with a Steam-Jet Aerosol Collector (SJAC) followed by suitable on-line analysis. A detailed description and verification of the inlet system for simultaneous sampling of soluble gases and aerosol compounds is presented. Overall measurement uncertainties of the ambient mixing ratios usually remained below 15%. The limit of detection (LOD) was determined for each single data point measured during the field experiment. Median LOD values (3σ-definition) were ≤0.015ppb for acidic trace gases and aerosol anions and ≤0.118ppb for NH3 and aerosol NH4+. Mixing ratios of acidic trace gases remained below 1ppb throughout the measurement period, while NH3 levels were an order of magnitude higher. Accordingly, mixing ratios of NH4+ exceeded those of other inorganic aerosol contributors by a factor of 4 to 10. During the wet season, mixing ratios decreased by nearly a factor of 3 for all compounds compared to those observed when intensive biomass burning took place. Additionally, N-containing gas and aerosol species featured pronounced diel variations. This is attributed to strong relative humidity and temperature variations between day and night as well as to changing photochemistry and stability conditions of the planetary boundary layer. HONO exhibited a characteristic diel cycle with high mixing ratios at nighttime and was not completely depleted by photolysis during daylight hours.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the carbon content of aerosols from the burning of biomass in the Brazilian Amazon using thermal, optical and thermal-optical analysis methods

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 12859-12906 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. L. Soto-García ◽  
M. O. Andreae ◽  
T. W. Andreae ◽  
P. Artaxo ◽  
W. Maenhaut ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Sampling Site ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Diurnal Changes ◽  
Optical Analysis ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Aerosol Composition ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Mass Concentrations

Abstract. Aerosol samples were collected at a pasture site in the Amazon Basin as part of the project LBA-SMOCC-2002 (Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia – Smoke Aerosols, Clouds, Rainfall and Climate: Aerosols from Biomass Burning Perturb Global and Regional Climate). Sampling was conducted during the late dry season, when the aerosol composition was dominated by biomass burning emissions, especially in the submicron fraction. A 13-stage Dekati low-pressure impactor (DLPI) was used to collect particles with nominal aerodynamic diameters ranging from 0.03 to 0.10 μm. Gravimetric analyses of the DLPI substrates and filters were performed to obtain aerosol mass concentrations. The concentrations of total, apparent elemental, and organic carbon (TC, ECa, and OC) were determined using thermal and thermal-optical analysis (TOA) methods. A light transmission method (LTM) was used to determine the concentration of equivalent black carbon (BCe) or the absorbing fraction at 880 nm for the size-resolved samples. During the dry period, due to the pervasive presence of fires in the region upwind of the sampling site, concentrations of fine aerosols (Dp < 2.5 μm: average 59.8 μg m−3) were higher than coarse aerosols (Dp > 2.5 μm: 4.1 μg m−3). Carbonaceous matter, estimated as the sum of the particulate organic matter (i.e., OC×1.8) plus BCe, comprised more than 90% to the total aerosol mass. Concentrations of ECa (estimated by thermal analysis with a correction for charring) and BCe (estimated by LTM) averaged 5.2±1.3 and 3.1±0.8 μg m−3, respectively. The determination of EC was improved by extracting water soluble organic material from the samples, which reduced the average light absorption Ångström exponent of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 1.0 μm from being greater than 2.0 to approximately 1.2. The size-resolved BCe measured by the LTM showed a clear maximum between 0.4 to 0.6 μm in diameter. The concentrations of OC and BCe varied diurnally during the dry period, and this variation is related to diurnal changes in boundary layer thickness and in fire frequency.

scholarly journals Molecular characterization of water soluble organic nitrogen in marine rainwater by ultra-high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 3557-3571 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. E. Altieri ◽  
M. G. Hastings ◽  
A. J. Peters ◽  
D. M. Sigman
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Electrospray Ionization ◽  
Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Soluble Organic Nitrogen

Abstract. Atmospheric water soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) is a subset of the complex organic matter in aerosols and rainwater, which impacts cloud condensation processes and aerosol chemical and optical properties and may play a significant role in the biogeochemical cycle of N. However, its sources, composition, connections to inorganic N, and variability are largely unknown. Rainwater samples were collected on the island of Bermuda (32.27° N, 64.87° W), which experiences both anthropogenic and marine influenced air masses. Samples were analyzed by ultra-high resolution electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry to chemically characterize the WSON. Elemental compositions of 2281 N containing compounds were determined over the mass range m/z+ 50 to 500. The five compound classes with the largest number of elemental formulas identified, in order from the highest number of formulas to the lowest, contained carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (CHON+), CHON compounds that contained sulfur (CHONS+), CHON compounds that contained phosphorus (CHONP+), CHON compounds that contained both sulfur and phosphorus (CHONSP+), and compounds that contained only carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen (CHN+). Compared to rainwater collected in the continental USA, average O:C ratios of all N containing compound classes were lower in the marine samples whereas double bond equivalent values were higher, suggesting a reduced role of secondary formation mechanisms. Despite their prevalence in continental rainwater, no organonitrates or nitrooxy-organosulfates were detected, but there was an increased presence of organic S and organic P containing compounds in the marine rainwater. Cluster analysis showed a clear chemical distinction between samples collected during the cold season (October to March) which have anthropogenic air mass origins and samples collected during the warm season (April to September) with remote marine air mass origins. This, in conjunction with patterns identified in van Krevelen diagrams, suggests that the cold season WSON is a mixture of organic matter with both marine and anthropogenic sources while in the warm season the WSON appears to be dominated by marine sources. These findings indicate that, although the concentrations and percent contribution of WSON to total N is fairly consistent across diverse geographic regions, the chemical composition of WSON varies strongly as a function of source region and atmospheric environment.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document