Airborne measurements of HC(O)OH in the European Arctic: A winter – summer comparison

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) Vol. 99; pp. 556 - 567
• Main Authors: Jones, Benjamin T., Muller, Jennifer B.A., O'Shea, Sebastian J., Bacak, Asan, Le Breton, Michael, Bannan, Thomas J., Leather, Kimberley E., Booth, A. Murray, Illingworth, Sam, Bower, Keith, Gallagher, Martin W., Allen, Grant, Shallcross, Dudley E., Bauguitte, Stephane J.-B., Pyle, John A., Percival, Carl J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Arctic; Chemical composition and interactions. Ionic interactions and processes; CIMS; Criegee intermediate; Diiodomethane; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Formic acid; Meteorology; Organic acids; polar regions; Arctic region; Europe; PN, Arctic; CIMS; Criegee intermediate; Arctic; Formic acid; Organic acids; Diiodomethane; Marine atmosphere; Summer; Measurement campaign; Source sink relationship; organic acids; Organic halogen compounds; Measurement in situ; Organic iodine compounds; Atmospheric chemistry; Winter; Polar region; organic compounds; Aerial survey; Comparative study
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.10.030

This study represents the first airborne, in-situ measurements of HC(O)OH in the European Arctic, across the winter and summer seasons. HC(O)OH concentrations are under predicted at present, particularly in the mid to high northern latitudes. Data presented here probe unconfirmed sources of HC(O)OH in the Arctic, and would suggest an ocean source of HC(O)OH is more significant than proposed land sources in both winter and summer environments. A maximum concentration of 420 ppt was recorded over the ocean during the July 2012 campaign. This was more than 1.7 times greater than the maximum land concentration reported. Calculated estimates on HC(O)OH production would suggest diiodomethane photolysis could represent a significant source of HC(O)OH in marine environments in the European Arctic. Enhanced HC(O)OH concentrations observed at altitudes greater than 2 km particularly during the March campaign highlight the significance of long range transport on the European Arctic budget. In addition, two HC(O)OH vertical profiles between the altitudes 0.3–6.6 km are presented to provide a more representative vertical profile for this latitude which may be used to improve forthcoming regional and global modelling of the HC(O)OH budget.
•The first airborne measurements of HC(O)OH in the European Arctic (EA).•No significant HC(O)OH snowpack source was observed during winter measurements.•Averaged HC(O)OH concentrations suggest marine sources dominate over land sources.•Calculations suggest CH2I2 oxidation represents a major marine source in the EA.