Abstract
Atmospheric nucleation from sulfuric acid depends on the concentrations and the stabilizing effect of other trace gases, such as ammonia and amines. Diamines are an understudied class of atmospherically relevant compounds, and we examine how they affect sulfuric acid nucleation in both flow reactor experiments and the atmosphere. The number of particles produced from sulfuric acid and diamines in the flow reactor was equal to or greater than the number formed from monoamines, implying that diamines are more effective nucleating agents. Upper limits of diamine abundance were also monitored during three field campaigns: Lamont, OK (2013); Lewes, DE (2012); and Atlanta, GA (2009). Mixing ratios were measured as high as tens of parts per trillion by volume (GA and OK). Laboratory results suggest that diamines at these levels are important for atmospheric nucleation. Diamines likely participate in atmospheric nucleation and should be considered in nucleation measurements and models.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 867-873 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Geophysical Research Letters |
Volume | 43 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 28 2016 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2016. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
- amines
- atmospheric nucleation
- diamines
- flow reactor
- sulfuric acid