Arctic observations of hydroperoxymethyl thioformate (HPMTF) – seasonal behavior and relationship to other oxidation products of dimethyl sulfide at the Zeppelin Observatory, Svalbard
<p>Dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a gas produced by phytoplankton, is the largest source of atmospheric sulfur over marine areas. DMS undergoes oxidation in the atmosphere to form a range of oxidation products, out of which sulfuric acid (SA) is well known for participating in the formation and growt...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/23/7569/2023/acp-23-7569-2023.pdf |
| Summary: | <p>Dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a gas produced by phytoplankton, is the largest
source of atmospheric sulfur over marine areas. DMS undergoes oxidation in
the atmosphere to form a range of oxidation products, out of which sulfuric
acid (SA) is well known for participating in the formation and growth of
atmospheric aerosol particles, and the same is also presumed for
methanesulfonic acid (MSA). Recently, a new oxidation product of DMS,
hydroperoxymethyl thioformate (HPMTF), was discovered and later also measured
in the atmosphere. Little is still known about the fate of this compound and
its potential to partition into the particle phase. In this study, we present
a full year (2020) of concurrent gas- and particle-phase observations of
HPMTF, MSA, SA and other DMS oxidation products at the Zeppelin Observatory
(Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard) located in the Arctic. This is the first time
HPMTF has been measured in Svalbard and attempted to be observed in
atmospheric particles. The results show that gas-phase HPMTF concentrations
largely follow the same pattern as MSA during the sunlit months
(April–September), indicating production of HPMTF around Svalbard. However,
HPMTF was not observed in significant amounts in the particle phase, despite
high gas-phase levels. Particulate MSA and SA were observed during the
sunlit months, although the highest median levels of particulate SA were
measured in February, coinciding with the highest gaseous SA levels with
assumed anthropogenic origin. We further show that gas- and particle-phase
MSA and SA are coupled in May–July, whereas HPMTF lies outside of this
correlation due to the low particulate concentrations. These results provide
more information about the relationship between HPMTF and other DMS
oxidation products, in a part of the world where these have not been explored
yet, and about HPMTF's ability to contribute to particle growth and cloud
formation.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |