Measurements of formaldehyde total content in troposphere using DOAS technique in Moscow Region

Abstract

Formaldehyde (HCHO) in the atmosphere is a product of oxidation of methane and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and so its content is an important index of air pollution by VOCs. HCHO has strong absorption cross-section in the UV spectral region and, hence, HCHO vertical column density (VCD) can be measured by remote optical methods including differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS). Spectral measurements of scattered solar radiation are performed at Zvenigorod Scientific Station (ZSS, 55°41'49''N, 36°46'29''E) located in 38 km west from Moscow Ring Road by MAX-DOAS instrument since 2008. For analysis of the HCHO variability we selected spectra taken in cloud free conditions. Version 1.2 of retrieval algorithm is used. It uses information on the surface albedo and the height of the atmospheric boundary layer inferred from a model. Data screening using color index was implemented. The obtained data quantify the Moscow megapolis influence on air quality at Zvenigorod by comparison of HCHO VCD for east and west wind directions. HCHO VCD for east winds is grater one for west winds for 0.5×10 16 mol×cm -2 in average. Strong dependence of HCHO VCD on air temperature is noticeable in our data for air temperatures from +5 to +35°C. In different conditions of the atmosphere gradient of the temperature effect is about 1.1–1.2×10 15 mol×cm-2×°C -1 . The increase of the formaldehyde content with the increase of the air temperature can be caused by the HCHO formation from non-methane biogenic volatile organic compounds for which more emission is expected at higher temperatures.