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The first UK measurements of nitryl chloride using a chemical ionisation mass spectrometer in central London in the summer of 2012, and an investigation of the role of Cl atom oxidation.

  • Thomas J. Bannan
  • , A. Murray Booth
  • , Asan Bacak
  • , Jennifer B A Muller
  • , Kimberley E. Leather
  • , Michael Le Breton
  • , Benjamin Jones
  • , Dominique Young
  • , Hugh Coe
  • , James Allan
  • , Suzanne Visser
  • , Jay G. Slowik
  • , Markus Furger
  • , André S H Prévôt
  • , James Lee
  • , Rachel E. Dunmore
  • , James R. Hopkins
  • , Jacqueline F. Hamilton
  • , Alastair C. Lewis
  • , Lisa K. Whalley
  • Thomas Sharp, Daniel Stone, Dwayne E. Heard, Zoë L. Fleming, Roland Leigh, Dudley E. Shallcross, Carl J. Percival*
*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The first nitryl chloride (ClNO<inf>2</inf>) measurements in the UK were made during the summer 2012 ClearfLo campaign with a chemical ionization mass spectrometer, utilizing an I<sup>-</sup> ionization scheme. Concentrations of ClNO<inf>2</inf> exceeded detectable limits (11 ppt) every night with a maximum concentration of 724 ppt. A diurnal profile of ClNO<inf>2</inf> peaking between 4 and 5 A.M., decreasing directly after sunrise, was observed. Concentrations of ClNO<inf>2</inf> above the detection limit are generally observed between 8 P.M. and 11 A.M. Different ratios of the production of ClNO<inf>2</inf>:N<inf>2</inf>O<inf>5</inf> were observed throughout with both positive and negative correlations between the two species being reported. The photolysis of ClNO<inf>2</inf> and a box model utilizing the Master Chemical Mechanism modified to include chlorine chemistry was used to calculate Cl atom concentrations. Simultaneous measurements of hydroxyl radicals (OH) using low pressure laser-induced fluorescence and ozone enabled the relative importance of the oxidation of three groups of measured VOCs (alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes) by OH radicals, Cl atoms, and O<inf>3</inf> to be compared. For the day with the maximum calculated Cl atom concentration, Cl atoms in the early morning were the dominant oxidant for alkanes and, over the entire day, contributed 15%, 3%, and 26% toward the oxidation of alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes, respectively. Key Points The first UK measurements of ClNO<inf>2</inf> using CIMS Relationships between N<inf>2</inf>O<inf>5</inf> and ClNO<inf>2</inf> were dependent on air mass origins Cl oxidizes 14.5%, 2.6%, and 25% of alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5638-5657
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Volume120
Issue number11
Early online date13 Apr 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2015

Bibliographical note

2014JD022629

Keywords

  • Troposphere
  • composition and chemistry
  • nitryl chloride
  • CIMS

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