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Atmospheric chemistry

How pollution chemistry builds isoprene SOA in Alabama

Rattanavaraha W, Chu K, Budisulistiorini SH, et al. · Atmospheric chemistry and physics · 2017

Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC

At Birmingham in SOAS 2013, IEPOX tracers dominate isoprene SOA and correlate with sulfate and ozone, pointing to anthropogenic enhancement of biogenic aerosol.

Study at a glance

Design
Other — SOAS 2013 filter campaign quantifying isoprene SOA tracers vs sulfate/ozone
N
N=120 · 120 high-volume PM2.5 filters from Birmingham, AL (1 Jun–16 Jul 2013)
Population
PM2.5 at Birmingham, Alabama during SOAS 2013
Outcome
Isoprene-derived SOA tracer mass and correlations with anthropogenic pollution markers

Structured fields used in claim comparison tables when every cited study has a complete layer.

Key findings

Isoprene SOA reached ~20% of OM (~7% average). IEPOX tracers were 92.45% of quantified isoprene SOA mass (2-methyltetrols 47%). Tracers correlated with sulfate and daytime ozone; most IEPOX SOA was likely formed upwind in forests, not locally at night.

Methodology

Authors quantified isoprene SOA tracers in 120 high-volume PM2.5 filters from Birmingham during 1 June–16 July 2013 using GC/EI-MS and UPLC/ESI-HR-QTOFMS, then correlated them with SEARCH gases, sulfate, and meteorology.

Limitations

Acidity was not limiting (mean pH 1.8); NOx gases did not correlate with tracers; urban ozone/nitrate cannot explain most of the SOA mass.

How this study connects

Role on claims

Each row is a claim on a concept or method page where this paper supports, challenges, or qualifies the statement. Roles are hand-checked — not a model guess.

  • SupportsAtmospheric chemistryconcept

    This library holds 5 empirical papers on atmospheric chemistry with measured outcomes rather than reviews.

    Evidence for the claim as stated.

  • SupportsAtmospheric chemistryconcept

    At Birmingham in SOAS 2013, IEPOX tracers dominate isoprene SOA and correlate with sulfate and ozone, pointing to anthropogenic enhancement of biogenic aerosol.

    Evidence for the claim as stated.

  • SupportsAtmospheric chemistryconcept

    A regional ozone study or a mechanism evaluation is not a full global chemical climate model.

    Evidence for the claim as stated.

Open questions

Tensions this paper is part of

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