Influence of photochemical loss of volatile organic compounds on understanding ozone formation mechanism

W. Ma; Z. Feng; Z. Feng; J. Zhan; Y. Liu; P. Liu; P. Liu; P. Liu; C. Liu; C. Liu; C. Liu; Q. Ma; Q. Ma; Q. Ma; K. Yang; Y. Wang; H. He; H. He; H. He; M. Kulmala; M. Kulmala; Y. Mu; Y. Mu; Y. Mu; J. Liu; J. Liu; J. Liu

doi:10.5194/acp-22-4841-2022

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Apr 2022)

Influence of photochemical loss of volatile organic compounds on understanding ozone formation mechanism

W. Ma,
Z. Feng,
Z. Feng,
J. Zhan,
Y. Liu,
P. Liu,
P. Liu,
P. Liu,
C. Liu,
C. Liu,
C. Liu,
Q. Ma,
Q. Ma,
Q. Ma,
K. Yang,
Y. Wang,
H. He,
H. He,
H. He,
M. Kulmala,
M. Kulmala,
Y. Mu,
Y. Mu,
Y. Mu,
J. Liu,
J. Liu,
J. Liu

Affiliations

W. Ma: Aerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
Z. Feng: Aerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
Z. Feng: College of Chemical Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063021, China
J. Zhan: Aerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
Y. Liu: Aerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
P. Liu: Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
P. Liu: Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
P. Liu: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
C. Liu: Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
C. Liu: Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
C. Liu: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Q. Ma: Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Q. Ma: Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Q. Ma: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
K. Yang: Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China
Y. Wang: Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China
H. He: Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
H. He: Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
H. He: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
M. Kulmala: Aerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
M. Kulmala: Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
Y. Mu: Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Y. Mu: Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Y. Mu: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
J. Liu: Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
J. Liu: Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
J. Liu: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4841-2022
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 22
pp. 4841 – 4851

Abstract

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Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) tend to be consumed by atmospheric oxidants, resulting in substantial photochemical loss during transport. An observation-based model was used to evaluate the influence of photochemical loss of VOCs on the sensitivity regime and mechanisms of ozone formation. Our results showed that a VOC-limited regime based on observed VOC concentrations shifted to a transition regime with a photochemical initial concentration of VOCs (PIC-VOCs) in the morning. The net ozone formation rate was underestimated by 3 ppb h−1 (∼36 ppb d−1) based on the measured VOCs when compared with the PIC-VOCs. The relative contribution of the RO2 path to ozone production based on the PIC-VOCs accordingly increased by 13.4 %; in particular, the contribution of alkene-derived RO2 increased by approximately 10.2 %. In addition, the OH–HO2 radical cycle was obviously accelerated by highly reactive alkenes after accounting for photochemical loss of VOCs. The contribution of local photochemistry might be underestimated for both local and regional ozone pollution if consumed VOCs are not accounted for, and policymaking on ozone pollution prevention should focus on VOCs with a high reactivity.

Published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

ISSN: 1680-7316 (Print); 1680-7324 (Online)
Publisher: Copernicus Publications
Country of publisher: Germany
LCC subjects: Science: Physics; Science: Chemistry
Website: http://www.atmospheric-chemistry-and-physics.net/

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