Parameterization of the formation potential of secondary organic aerosols

Abstract

Urban particulate matter (PM₁₀) concentrations often include a large contribution from secondary aerosols, i.e. sulfate, nitrate and organic aerosols, which are formed in situ by chemical reactions of their gas phase precursors, SOₓ, NOₓ and reactive organic gases (ROG), respectively. For secondary organic aerosols, the results of smog chamber experiments are used to estimate the fraction of ROG that is converted into aerosols, called the fractional aerosol coefficient. An ‘emission parameter’ for secondary organic aerosol can thus be calculated for each ROG. This emission parameter is simply taken as the product of the ROG emission factor and the fractional aerosol coefficient. The secondary organic aerosol emission parameters thus estimated can then be modeled as if secondary organic aerosols formed photochemically in urban air were primary emissions.