Abstract

Results from the summer portion of the NASA ARCTAS (Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellite) experiment show that in the low NOx, high biogenic volatile organic carbon environment of the boreal forest, organic nitrates are 18% of oxidized nitrogen in the ... Show moreResults from the summer portion of the NASA ARCTAS (Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellite) experiment show that in the low NOx, high biogenic volatile organic carbon environment of the boreal forest, organic nitrates are 18% of oxidized nitrogen in the lowest 2 km of the atmosphere. Calculations show that the instantaneous production rates of organic nitrates and nitric acid are approximately equal, indicating that organic nitrate formation is an important NOx sink in this environment. ARCTAS measurements indicate that monoterpenes account for the majority of the instantaneous organic nitrate production. We expect that the monoterpene-derived nitrates contribute to SOA production. Using the WRF-CHEM model, constrained by ARCTAS measurements, we investigate the role of monoterpene-derived nitrates on NOx chemistry in the boreal forest region and how the sequestration of NOx through partitioning of organic nitrates into SOA affects NOx lifetime. Show less