Flux chamber study of particle formation from Durvillaea potatorum

Abstract

Environmental context. Kelp at Mace Head, Ireland, produces large quantities of iodine when exposed to sunlight at low tide and this iodine results in the rapid production of particles. Cape Grim, Tasmania, also has large colonies of kelp (Durvillaea potatorum) but its role in particle formation appears limited. A flux chamber was used to better understand the response of Durvillaea potatorum to light stress and ozone. Abstract. Brown kelp, in particular Laminara digitata at Mace Head, Ireland, has been shown to emit iodine when under stress, resulting in new particle formation. The Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, Tasmania, is surrounded by rocky reefs that support large colonies of the brown kelp Durvillaea potatorum. During an intensive campaign in February 2006 at Cape Grim, levels of IO, OIO and methyl iodide remained at background levels and no particle formation events could be associated with locally generated precursor iodine species. In order to better understand the limitations of the local kelp to provide a source of precursor species, samples of Durvillaea potatorum were collected from the beach below the Cape Grim Station and tested for their capacity to initiate particle formation using a flux chamber technique. Particles were observed only when the kelp was exposed to both very high levels (>100 ppb) of ozone and natural solar radiation. There was a high correlation between ozone level and particles produced. The particles resulting from exposure to high levels of ozone were aromatic and volatile. Durvillaea potatorum appears to plays a very limited role in contributing to particle formation at Cape Grim, but it does represent a source of atmospheric iodine under photo-oxidative stress, of 18 pmol g–1 (fresh weight) min–1 and is likely to have a significant role in atmospheric chemistry at this site.