The chemistry of OH and HO2 radicals in the boundary layer over the tropical Atlantic Ocean

L. K. Whalley, K. L. Furneaux, A. Goddard, J. D. Lee, A. Mahajan, H. Oetjen, K. A. Read, N. Kaaden, L. J. Carpenter, A. C. Lewis, J. M. C. Plane, E. S. Saltzman, A. Wiedensohler, D. E. Heard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Fluorescence Assay by Gas Expansion (FAGE) has been used to detect ambient levels of OH and HO2 radicals at the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory, located in the tropical Atlantic marine boundary layer, during May and June 2007. Midday radical concentrations were high, with maximum concentrations of 9 x10(6) molecule cm(-3) and 6x10(8) molecule cm(-3) observed for OH and HO2, respectively. A box model incorporating the detailed Master Chemical Mechanism, extended to include halogen chemistry, heterogeneous loss processes and constrained by all available measurements including halogen and nitrogen oxides, has been used to assess the chemical and physical parameters controlling the radical chemistry. The model was able to reproduce the daytime radical concentrations to within the 1 sigma measurement uncertainty of 20% during the latter half of the measurement period but significantly under-predicted [HO2] by 39% during the first half of the project. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate that elevated [HCHO] (similar to 2 ppbv) on specific days during the early part of the project, which were much greater than the mean [HCHO] (328 pptv) used to constrain the model, could account for a large portion of the discrepancy between modelled and measured [HO2] at this time. IO and BrO, although present only at a few pptv, constituted similar to 19% of the instantaneous sinks for HO2, whilst aerosol uptake and surface deposition to the ocean accounted for a further 23% of the HO2 loss at noon. Photolysis of HOI and HOBr accounted for similar to 13% of the instantaneous OH formation. Taking into account that halogen oxides increase the oxidation of NOx (NO -> NO2), and in turn reduce the rate of formation of OH from the reaction of HO2 with NO, OH concentrations were estimated to be 9% higher overall due to the presence of halogens. The increase in modelled OH from halogen chemistry gives an estimated 9% shorter lifetime for methane in this region, and the inclusion of halogen chemistry is necessary to model the observed daily cycle of O-3 destruction that is observed at the surface. Due to surface losses, we hypothesise that HO2 concentrations increase with height and therefore contribute a larger fraction of the O-3 destruction than at the surface.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1555-1576
Number of pages22
JournalAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Volume10
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Keywords

  • PACIFIC EXPLORATORY MISSION
  • SEA-SALT AEROSOL
  • CLEAN MARINE AIR
  • PEM-TROPICS
  • GAS-PHASE
  • OZONE PHOTOCHEMISTRY
  • ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS
  • IODINE CHEMISTRY
  • PEROXY-RADICALS
  • TRANSPORT MODEL

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