40 research outputs found

    Substrate effects in the photoenhanced ozonation of pyrene

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    We report the effects of actinic illumination on the heterogeneous ozonation kinetics of solid pyrene films and pyrene adsorbed at air-octanol and air-aqueous interfaces. Upon illumination, the ozonation of solid pyrene films and pyrene at the air-aqueous interface proceeds more quickly than in darkness; no such enhancement is observed for pyrene at the air-octanol interface. Under dark conditions, the reaction of pyrene at all three interfaces proceeds via a Langmuir-Hinshelwood-type surface mechanism. In the presence of light, Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics are observed for solid pyrene films but a linear dependence upon gas-phase ozone concentration is observed at the air-aqueous interface. We interpret these results as evidence of the importance of charge-transfer pathways for the ozonation of excited-state pyrene. The dramatically different behaviour of pyrene at the surface of these three simple reaction environments highlights the difficulties inherent in representing complex reactive surfaces in the laboratory, and suggests caution in extrapolating laboratory results to environmental surfaces

    Comprehensive assessment of meteorological conditions and airflow connectivity during HCCT-2010

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    This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the meteorological conditions and atmospheric flow dur- ing the Lagrangian-type “Hill Cap Cloud Thuringia 2010” experiment (HCCT-2010), which was performed in Septem- ber and October 2010 at Mt. SchmĂŒcke in the Thuringian Forest, Germany and which used observations at three measurement sites (upwind, in-cloud, and downwind) to study physical and chemical aerosol–cloud interactions. A Lagrangian-type hill cap cloud experiment requires not only suitable cloud conditions but also connected airflow condi- tions (i.e. representative air masses at the different measure- ment sites). The primary goal of the present study was to identify time periods during the 6-week duration of the ex- periment in which these conditions were fulfilled and there- fore which are suitable for use in further data examinations. The following topics were studied in detail: (i) the general synoptic weather situations, including the mesoscale flow conditions, (ii) local meteorological conditions and (iii) lo- cal flow conditions. The latter were investigated by means of statistical analyses using best-available quasi-inert trac- ers, SF6 tracer experiments in the experiment area, and re- gional modelling. This study represents the first applica- tion of comprehensive analyses using statistical measures such as the coefficient of divergence (COD) and the cross- correlation in the context of a Lagrangian-type hill cap cloud experiment. This comprehensive examination of local flow connectivity yielded a total of 14 full-cloud events (FCEs), which are defined as periods during which all connected flow and cloud criteria for a suitable Lagrangian-type ex- periment were fulfilled, and 15 non-cloud events (NCEs), which are defined as periods with connected flow but no cloud at the summit site, and which can be used as refer- ence cases. The overall evaluation of the identified FCEs provides the basis for subsequent investigations of the mea- sured chemical and physical data during HCCT-2010 (see http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/special_issue287.html). Results obtained from the statistical flow analyses and regional-scale modelling performed in this study indicate the existence of a strong link between the three measurement sites during the FCEs and NCEs, particularly under condi- tions of constant southwesterly flow, high wind speeds and slightly stable stratification. COD analyses performed using continuous measurements of ozone and particle (49nm di- ameter size bin) concentrations at the three sites revealed, particularly for COD value

    Photoenhanced ozone loss on solid pyrene films

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    Styler, Sarah A. Brigante, Marcello D'Anna, Barbara George, Christian Donaldson, D. J.This work presents the results of two complementary studies of the heterogeneous reaction of gas-phase ozone with solid pyrene films. In the first study, ozone uptake by the pyrene film was determined using a coated-wall flow tube system. In the second, pyrene loss within the film upon exposure to ozone was monitored using a laser-induced fluorescence technique. The dependence of the reactive loss rate on ozone concentration observed in both methods suggests that the reaction proceeds via a Langmuir-Hinshelwood-type surface mechanism. At a mixing ratio of 50 ppb, the steady-state reactive uptake coefficient of ozone by pyrene films increased from 5.0 x 10(-6) in the dark to 3.7 x 10(-5) upon exposure to near-UV radiation (300-420 nm). The uptake coefficient increased linearly as a function of UV-A spectral irradiance and decreased markedly with increasing relative humidity. The loss of surface pyrene upon exposure to ozone also displayed a light enhancement: analysis of Langmuir-Hinshelwood plots for the light and dark reactions revealed a small increase in the two-dimensional reaction rate in the presence of light (lambda 愊灭;gt;= 295 nm). This modest enhancement, however, was less significant than the corresponding enhancement in the loss of gas-phase ozone. In order to explain these observations, we present an integrated mechanism whereby the light-enhanced ozone uptake arises from the reaction of ozone with O-2((1)Sigma(+)(g)) formed via energy transfer from excited-state pyrene and the enhanced pyrene loss occurs via the formation of a charge-transfer complex between excited-state pyrene and adsorbed ozone. The disparity between surface-and gas-phase results underscores the important role that multifaceted strategies can play in elucidating the mechanisms of heterogeneous atmospheric reactions

    Increased steady state uptake of ozone on soot due to UV/Vis radiation

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    AIR+MMO:CGOInternational audienc

    Critical assessment of meteorological conditions and airflow connectivity during HCCT-2010

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    This study presents a comprehensive and critical assessment of the meteorological conditions and atmospheric flow during the Lagrangian-type "Hill Cap Cloud Thuringia 2010" experiment (HCCT-2010). HCCT-2010 was performed in September and October 2010 at Mt. SchmĂŒcke in the Thuringian forest, Germany, applying three measurements sites (upwind, in-cloud, downwind) to study physical and chemical aerosol-cloud-interactions. A Lagrangian-type hill cap cloud experiment requires suitable cloud and particularly connected airflow conditions, i.e. representative air masses at the different measurement sites. Therefore, the present study aimed at the identification of time periods during the 6-weeks duration of the campaign, where such conditions were fulfilled and which can be used in further data examinations. The following topics were studied in detail: (i) the general synoptic weather situations including the mesoscale flow conditions by means of a classification of advected air masses and calculation of non-dimensional flow parameters (e.g. Froude number), (ii) local meteorological conditions, including synoptic front passages, the presence of orographic or frontal cloudiness, cloud base heights and vertical stratification, and (iii) local flow conditions by means of statistical analyses using the quasi-inert trace gas ozone and selected size bins of particle number size distributions as well as SF6 tracer experiments in the campaign area. A comprehensive analyses using statistical measures such as the COD (Coefficient Of Divergence) and cross-correlation have been carried out for the first time in the context of a Lagrangian-type hill cap cloud experiment. Suitable criteria for the aimed statistical analyses were thus developed and applied in the present study to characterise the local flow connectivity in detail. The comprehensive examination resulted in a total of 14 so-called "Full Cloud Events" (FCE), which are shown to conform to the Lagrange-type experimental philosophy of HCCT-2010. In addition, 15 so-called "Non-Cloud Events" (NCEs) could be established, which can be used as reference cases as they provide similarly suitable flow conditions but no cloud at the summit site. Orographic cloudiness was identified for approx. one third of the FCE periods, while about two thirds were associated to synoptic fronts. The statistical flow analyses indicate the existence of a strong link between the sites during the events, particularly under constant south-westerly flow conditions, high wind speeds and slightly stable stratification. The COD analyses using continuously measured concentrations of ozone and the 49 nm diameter particle bin revealed particularly for COD values below 0.1 very consistent time series, i.e. closely linked air masses between the different sites. The cross-correlation analysis revealed under connected flow conditions typical overflow times of about 15 to 30 min between the two valley sites. Additionally, the performed SF6 tracer experiments during the campaign clearly demonstrate that under appropriate meteorological conditions a Lagrangian-type approach is valid and that the connected flow validation procedure developed in this work is suitable for identifying such conditions. Finally, an overall evaluation of the identified FCEs is presented, which provides the basis for subsequent investigations of the measured chemical and physical data during HCCT-2010
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