Abstract
Using on-line High-Resolution Aerosol Mass Spectrometry, we report submicron organic marine aerosol plume concentrations peaking at 3.8 mu g m(-3). These concentrations are far greater than previously determined by off-line techniques and can exceed typical terrestrial concentrations of organic aerosol. The organic mass comprised 77% of the total submicron non-refractory mass and such plumes were associated with regions of high biological activity and moderately-high wind speeds over the N.E. Atlantic. High-resolution mass spectra analysis revealed a unique marine organic aerosol fingerprint, when compared to anthropogenic organic aerosol, and in particular, anthropogenic hydrocarbons. 37% hydrocarbon and 63% oxygenated hydrocarbon speciation was observed for the organic mass, indicating that at least 37% of the organic mass is produced via primary sea-spray. The hydrocarbon and oxygenated hydrocarbon species were highly correlated (r 0.99) suggesting a significant, if not dominant, fraction of the oxygenated component is also likely to be sea-spray in origin. Citation: Ovadnevaite, J., C. ODowd, M. DallOsto, D. Ceburnis, D. R. Worsnop, and H. Berresheim (2011), Detecting high contributions of primary organic matter to marine aerosol: A case study, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L02807, doi: 10.1029 2010GL046083.
| Original language | English (Ireland) |
|---|---|
| Article number | L02807 |
| Number of pages | 0 |
| Journal | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2011 |
Authors (Note for portal: view the doc link for the full list of authors)
- Authors
- Ovadnevaite, J,O'Dowd, C,Dall'Osto, M,Ceburnis, D,Worsnop, DR,Berresheim, H
- Ovadnevaite, J;O'Dowd, C;Dall'Osto, M;Ceburnis, D;Worsnop, DR;Berresheim, H