Night-time NO3 and OH radical concentrations in the United Kingdom inferred from hydrocarbon measurements

M. A.H. Khan; M. J. Ashfold; G. Nickless; D. Martin; L. A. Watson; P. D. Hamer; R. P. Wayne; C. E. Canosa-Mas; D. E. Shallcross

doi:10.1002/asl.175

Night-time NO₃ and OH radical concentrations in the United Kingdom inferred from hydrocarbon measurements

M. A.H. Khan
, M. J. Ashfold
, G. Nickless
, D. Martin
, L. A. Watson
, P. D. Hamer
, R. P. Wayne
, C. E. Canosa-Mas
, D. E. Shallcross

Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review

37 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The hydrocarbon decay method (Rivett et al., 2003) has been used to analyse hydrocarbon data from four contrasting sites in the United Kingdom to estimate night-time levels of NO₃ and OH. Remarkably consistent results emerge using alkenes, revealing NO₃ and OH levels in the range of 0.01-10 ppt and 1 × 10⁴ - 1 × 10⁶ molecule cm^-3, respectively. Weak seasonal cycles are observed where NO₃ levels peak in spring and OH in summer. Analysis using alkanes suggests that Cl atom levels of around 2 × 10⁴ molecule cm^-3 may be present. How Cl may be formed at night in such high quantities is unknown and may not be the answer to the disparity between the two methods.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	140-146
Number of pages	7
Journal	Atmospheric Science Letters
Volume	9
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/asl.175
Publication status	Published - Jul 2008
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Cl atoms
NETCEN
NO
Night-time radicals
OH

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10.1002/asl.175

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title = "Night-time NO3 and OH radical concentrations in the United Kingdom inferred from hydrocarbon measurements",

abstract = "The hydrocarbon decay method (Rivett et al., 2003) has been used to analyse hydrocarbon data from four contrasting sites in the United Kingdom to estimate night-time levels of NO3 and OH. Remarkably consistent results emerge using alkenes, revealing NO3 and OH levels in the range of 0.01-10 ppt and 1 × 104 - 1 × 106 molecule cm-3, respectively. Weak seasonal cycles are observed where NO3 levels peak in spring and OH in summer. Analysis using alkanes suggests that Cl atom levels of around 2 × 104 molecule cm-3 may be present. How Cl may be formed at night in such high quantities is unknown and may not be the answer to the disparity between the two methods.",

keywords = "Cl atoms, NETCEN, NO, Night-time radicals, OH",

author = "Khan, \{M. A.H.\} and Ashfold, \{M. J.\} and G. Nickless and D. Martin and Watson, \{L. A.\} and Hamer, \{P. D.\} and Wayne, \{R. P.\} and Canosa-Mas, \{C. E.\} and Shallcross, \{D. E.\}",

year = "2008",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1002/asl.175",

language = "English",

volume = "9",

pages = "140--146",

journal = "Atmospheric Science Letters",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Night-time NO3 and OH radical concentrations in the United Kingdom inferred from hydrocarbon measurements

AU - Khan, M. A.H.

AU - Ashfold, M. J.

AU - Nickless, G.

AU - Martin, D.

AU - Watson, L. A.

AU - Hamer, P. D.

AU - Wayne, R. P.

AU - Canosa-Mas, C. E.

AU - Shallcross, D. E.

PY - 2008/7

Y1 - 2008/7

N2 - The hydrocarbon decay method (Rivett et al., 2003) has been used to analyse hydrocarbon data from four contrasting sites in the United Kingdom to estimate night-time levels of NO3 and OH. Remarkably consistent results emerge using alkenes, revealing NO3 and OH levels in the range of 0.01-10 ppt and 1 × 104 - 1 × 106 molecule cm-3, respectively. Weak seasonal cycles are observed where NO3 levels peak in spring and OH in summer. Analysis using alkanes suggests that Cl atom levels of around 2 × 104 molecule cm-3 may be present. How Cl may be formed at night in such high quantities is unknown and may not be the answer to the disparity between the two methods.

AB - The hydrocarbon decay method (Rivett et al., 2003) has been used to analyse hydrocarbon data from four contrasting sites in the United Kingdom to estimate night-time levels of NO3 and OH. Remarkably consistent results emerge using alkenes, revealing NO3 and OH levels in the range of 0.01-10 ppt and 1 × 104 - 1 × 106 molecule cm-3, respectively. Weak seasonal cycles are observed where NO3 levels peak in spring and OH in summer. Analysis using alkanes suggests that Cl atom levels of around 2 × 104 molecule cm-3 may be present. How Cl may be formed at night in such high quantities is unknown and may not be the answer to the disparity between the two methods.

KW - Cl atoms

KW - NETCEN

KW - NO

KW - Night-time radicals

KW - OH

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/77953003804

U2 - 10.1002/asl.175

DO - 10.1002/asl.175

M3 - Article

SN - 1530-261X

VL - 9

SP - 140

EP - 146

JO - Atmospheric Science Letters

JF - Atmospheric Science Letters

IS - 3

ER -

Night-time NO₃ and OH radical concentrations in the United Kingdom inferred from hydrocarbon measurements

Abstract

Keywords

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