| Popis: |
Water is a key component of atmospheric aerosol, affecting many aerosol processes including gas/particle partitioning of semi-volatile compounds. Water related to secondary organic aerosol (SOAW) is often neglected in atmospheric chemical transport models and is not considered in gas-to-particle partitioning calculations for inorganic species. We use a new inorganic aerosol thermodynamics model, ISORROPIA-lite, which considers the effects of SOAW, to perform chemical transport model simulations for a year over the continental United States to quantify its effects on aerosol mass concentration and composition. SOAW can increase average fine aerosol water levels up to a factor of two when secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is a major PM1 component. This is often the case in the south-eastern U.S where SOA concentrations are higher. Although the annual average impact of this added water on total dry PM1 concentrations due to increased partitioning of nitrate and ammonium is small (up to 0.1 μg m−3), total dry PM1 increases of up to 2 μg m−3 (with nitrate levels increases up to 200 %) can occur when RH levels and PM1 concentrations are high. |
