Characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Asian and north American pollution plumes during INTEX-B: identification of specific Chinese air mass tracers
We present results from the Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment – Phase B (INTEX-B) aircraft mission conducted in spring 2006. By analyzing the mixing ratios of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) measured during the second part of the field campaign, together with kinematic back trajectori...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2009-07-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/5371/2009/acp-9-5371-2009.pdf |
| _version_ | 1828290816831913984 |
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| author | A. J. Weinheimer F. S. Rowland D. R. Blake T. Campos M. A. Avery G. W. Sachse H. E. Fuelberg R. J. McKeachie B. J. Novak J. R. Midyett M. Yang N. J. Blake A. K. Baker A. J. Beyersdorf E. L. Atlas I. J. Simpson S. Meinardi B. Barletta |
| author_facet | A. J. Weinheimer F. S. Rowland D. R. Blake T. Campos M. A. Avery G. W. Sachse H. E. Fuelberg R. J. McKeachie B. J. Novak J. R. Midyett M. Yang N. J. Blake A. K. Baker A. J. Beyersdorf E. L. Atlas I. J. Simpson S. Meinardi B. Barletta |
| author_sort | A. J. Weinheimer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present results from the Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment – Phase B (INTEX-B) aircraft mission conducted in spring 2006. By analyzing the mixing ratios of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) measured during the second part of the field campaign, together with kinematic back trajectories, we were able to identify five plumes originating from China, four plumes from other Asian regions, and three plumes from the United States. To identify specific tracers for the different air masses we characterized their VOC composition and we compared their background levels with those obtained during the 2004 INTEX-A mission. The Chinese and other Asian air masses were significantly enhanced in carbonyl sulfide (OCS) and methyl chloride (CH<sub>3</sub>Cl), while all CFC replacement compounds were elevated in US plumes, particularly HFC-134a. <br></br> Although elevated mixing ratios of Halon-1211 were measured in some Chinese plume samples, several measurements at background levels were also observed. After analyzing the VOC distribution and correlations within the Chinese pollution plumes and applying principal component analysis (PCA), we suggest the use of a suite of species, rather than a single gas, as specific tracers of Chinese air masses (namely OCS, CH<sub>3</sub>Cl, 1,2-dichloroethane, ethyl chloride, and Halon-1211). In an era of constantly changing halocarbon usage patterns, this suite of gases best reflects new emission characteristics from China. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:41:53Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:41:53Z |
| publishDate | 2009-07-01 |
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| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-db8ebf62395d414fb48b889c9e20874d2022-12-22T02:49:54ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242009-07-0191453715388Characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Asian and north American pollution plumes during INTEX-B: identification of specific Chinese air mass tracersA. J. WeinheimerF. S. RowlandD. R. BlakeT. CamposM. A. AveryG. W. SachseH. E. FuelbergR. J. McKeachieB. J. NovakJ. R. MidyettM. YangN. J. BlakeA. K. BakerA. J. BeyersdorfE. L. AtlasI. J. SimpsonS. MeinardiB. BarlettaWe present results from the Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment – Phase B (INTEX-B) aircraft mission conducted in spring 2006. By analyzing the mixing ratios of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) measured during the second part of the field campaign, together with kinematic back trajectories, we were able to identify five plumes originating from China, four plumes from other Asian regions, and three plumes from the United States. To identify specific tracers for the different air masses we characterized their VOC composition and we compared their background levels with those obtained during the 2004 INTEX-A mission. The Chinese and other Asian air masses were significantly enhanced in carbonyl sulfide (OCS) and methyl chloride (CH<sub>3</sub>Cl), while all CFC replacement compounds were elevated in US plumes, particularly HFC-134a. <br></br> Although elevated mixing ratios of Halon-1211 were measured in some Chinese plume samples, several measurements at background levels were also observed. After analyzing the VOC distribution and correlations within the Chinese pollution plumes and applying principal component analysis (PCA), we suggest the use of a suite of species, rather than a single gas, as specific tracers of Chinese air masses (namely OCS, CH<sub>3</sub>Cl, 1,2-dichloroethane, ethyl chloride, and Halon-1211). In an era of constantly changing halocarbon usage patterns, this suite of gases best reflects new emission characteristics from China.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/5371/2009/acp-9-5371-2009.pdf |
| spellingShingle | A. J. Weinheimer F. S. Rowland D. R. Blake T. Campos M. A. Avery G. W. Sachse H. E. Fuelberg R. J. McKeachie B. J. Novak J. R. Midyett M. Yang N. J. Blake A. K. Baker A. J. Beyersdorf E. L. Atlas I. J. Simpson S. Meinardi B. Barletta Characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Asian and north American pollution plumes during INTEX-B: identification of specific Chinese air mass tracers Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Asian and north American pollution plumes during INTEX-B: identification of specific Chinese air mass tracers |
| title_full | Characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Asian and north American pollution plumes during INTEX-B: identification of specific Chinese air mass tracers |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Asian and north American pollution plumes during INTEX-B: identification of specific Chinese air mass tracers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Asian and north American pollution plumes during INTEX-B: identification of specific Chinese air mass tracers |
| title_short | Characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Asian and north American pollution plumes during INTEX-B: identification of specific Chinese air mass tracers |
| title_sort | characterization of volatile organic compounds vocs in asian and north american pollution plumes during intex b identification of specific chinese air mass tracers |
| url | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/5371/2009/acp-9-5371-2009.pdf |
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