Evaluating SOA formation from different sources of semi- and intermediate-volatility organic compounds from the Athabasca oil sands

Jacob M Sommers,Patrick L Hayes,Cristian Mihele,Andreas Zuend,Alex K Y Lee,Robin G Stevens,Richard L Mittermeier,Mengistu Wolde,Craig A Stroud,Katherine Hayden,Max G Adam,Jeffrey R Brook,Jason O'Brien,Kun Li,John Liggio

doi:10.1039/d1ea00053e

Abstract

Organic aerosols are a major component of particulate matter but have a complex and uncertain effect on climate and health.

Highlights

Atmospheric aerosols are important contributors to radiative forcing of Earth’s climate and have been linked to negative health outcomes.1–5 Organic aerosols (OA) make up between 20 %to 90 % of the submicron aerosol mass depending on location.6 OA is a complex mixture of directly emitted primary organic aerosol (POA) emitted and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed from parent hydrocarbons produced by a diverse range of anthropogenic and biogenic sources.7,8 POA is often emitted as larger hydrocarbons from combustion sources including motor vehicles, biomass burning, and food cooking
The Athabasca Oil Sands, aircraft measurements provide clear evidence that the atmospheric oxidation of organic precursors is leading to extensive SOA formation
As suggested by the Van Krevelen (VK) diagrams presented in this work, the SOA formation at the Oil Sands has some similarity to that observed in urban regions, the evolution of the O:C and H:C ratios

Summary

Introduction

Atmospheric aerosols are important contributors to radiative forcing of Earth’s climate and have been linked to negative health outcomes. Organic aerosols (OA) make up between 20 %to 90 % of the submicron aerosol mass depending on location. OA is a complex mixture of directly emitted primary organic aerosol (POA) emitted and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed from parent hydrocarbons produced by a diverse range of anthropogenic and biogenic sources. POA is often emitted as larger hydrocarbons from combustion sources including motor vehicles, biomass burning, and food cooking. Atmospheric aerosols are important contributors to radiative forcing of Earth’s climate and have been linked to negative health outcomes.. To 90 % of the submicron aerosol mass depending on location.. OA is a complex mixture of directly emitted primary organic aerosol (POA) emitted and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed from parent hydrocarbons produced by a diverse range of anthropogenic and biogenic sources.. POA is often emitted as larger hydrocarbons from combustion sources including motor vehicles, biomass burning, and food cooking. SOA is often formed from lighter gaseous hydrocarbons which are processed in the atmosphere and transformed into lower volatility secondary species that partition into the particle phase.. Since the chemical identity and properties of hydrocarbons change between sources and locations, characterizing major emission sources is an important step towards understanding regional and global aerosol emissions and SOA formation potential SOA is often formed from lighter gaseous hydrocarbons which are processed in the atmosphere and transformed into lower volatility secondary species that partition into the particle phase. Since the chemical identity and properties of hydrocarbons change between sources and locations, characterizing major emission sources is an important step towards understanding regional and global aerosol emissions and SOA formation potential

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Conclusion