Articles | Volume 3, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-417-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-417-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
04 Jul 2025
Research article |
| 04 Jul 2025
| 04 Jul 2025
A theory-informed, experiment-based constraint on the rate of autoxidation chemistry – an analytical approach
Lukas Pichelstorfer
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
pi-numerics, Neumarkt am Wallersee, 5202, Austria
Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, University of Helsinki, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
Simon P. O'Meara
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
National Centre for Atmospheric Science, Leeds LS2 9PH, UK
Gordon McFiggans
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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The chemical composition of organic aerosol derived from wood-burning emissions under different burning conditions was characterised. Fresh emissions from flaming and smouldering were largely aromatic in nature, whereas upon aging the aromatic content decreased. This decrease was greater for smouldering due to the loss of toxic polyaromatic species, whereas under flaming conditions highly toxic polyaromatic species were produced. These differences present an important challenge for future policy.
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Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 4789–4807, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4789-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4789-2024, 2024
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Highly oxygenated organic molecules are important contributors to secondary organic aerosol. Their yield depends on detailed atmospheric chemical composition. One important parameter is the ratio of hydroperoxy radicals to organic peroxy radicals (HO2/RO2), and we show that higher HO2/RO2 ratios lower the secondary organic aerosol yield. This is of importance as laboratory studies are often biased towards organic peroxy radicals.
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Ernesto Reyes-Villegas, Douglas Lowe, Jill S. Johnson, Kenneth S. Carslaw, Eoghan Darbyshire, Michael Flynn, James D. Allan, Hugh Coe, Ying Chen, Oliver Wild, Scott Archer-Nicholls, Alex Archibald, Siddhartha Singh, Manish Shrivastava, Rahul A. Zaveri, Vikas Singh, Gufran Beig, Ranjeet Sokhi, and Gordon McFiggans
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Organic aerosols (OAs), their sources and their processes remain poorly understood. The volatility basis set (VBS) approach, implemented in air quality models such as WRF-Chem, can be a useful tool to describe primary OA (POA) production and aging. However, the main disadvantage is its complexity. We used a Gaussian process simulator to reproduce model results and to estimate the sources of model uncertainty. We do this by comparing the outputs with OA observations made at Delhi, India, in 2018.
Aristeidis Voliotis, Mao Du, Yu Wang, Yunqi Shao, M. Rami Alfarra, Thomas J. Bannan, Dawei Hu, Kelly L. Pereira, Jaqueline F. Hamilton, Mattias Hallquist, Thomas F. Mentel, and Gordon McFiggans
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Mixing experiments are crucial and highly beneficial for our understanding of atmospheric chemical interactions. However, interpretation quickly becomes complex, and both the experimental design and evaluation need to be scrutinised carefully. Advanced online and offline compositional measurements can reveal substantial additional information to aid in the interpretation of yield data, including components uniquely found in mixtures and property changes in SOA formed from mixtures of VOCs.
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The addition of a low-yield precursor to the reactive mixture of aVOC and bVOC can increase or decrease the SOA volatility that is system-dependent. Therefore, the SOA volatility of the mixtures cannot always be predicted based on the additivity. In complex mixtures the formation of lower-volatility products likely outweighs the formation of products with higher volatility. The unique products of each mixture contribute significantly to the signal, suggesting interactions can be important.
Yunqi Shao, Aristeidis Voliotis, Mao Du, Yu Wang, Kelly Pereira, Jacqueline Hamilton, M. Rami Alfarra, and Gordon McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 9799–9826, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9799-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9799-2022, 2022
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This study explored the chemical properties of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) that formed from photo-oxidation of single and mixed biogenic and anthropogenic precursors. We showed that SOA chemical properties in a mixed vapour system are mainly affected by the
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Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 4385–4406, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4385-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4385-2022, 2022
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Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 539–559, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-539-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-539-2022, 2022
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Aristeidis Voliotis, Yu Wang, Yunqi Shao, Mao Du, Thomas J. Bannan, Carl J. Percival, Spyros N. Pandis, M. Rami Alfarra, and Gordon McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 14251–14273, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14251-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14251-2021, 2021
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Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from mixtures of volatile precursors can be affected by the molecular interactions of the products. Composition and volatility measurements of SOA formed from mixtures of anthropogenic and biogenic precursors reveal processes that can increase or decrease the SOA volatility. The unique products of the mixture were more oxygenated and less volatile than those from either precursor. Analytical context is provided to explore the SOA volatility in mixtures.
Ernesto Reyes-Villegas, Upasana Panda, Eoghan Darbyshire, James M. Cash, Rutambhara Joshi, Ben Langford, Chiara F. Di Marco, Neil J. Mullinger, Mohammed S. Alam, Leigh R. Crilley, Daniel J. Rooney, W. Joe F. Acton, Will Drysdale, Eiko Nemitz, Michael Flynn, Aristeidis Voliotis, Gordon McFiggans, Hugh Coe, James Lee, C. Nicholas Hewitt, Mathew R. Heal, Sachin S. Gunthe, Tuhin K. Mandal, Bhola R. Gurjar, Shivani, Ranu Gadi, Siddhartha Singh, Vijay Soni, and James D. Allan
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Yu Wang, Aristeidis Voliotis, Yunqi Shao, Taomou Zong, Xiangxinyue Meng, Mao Du, Dawei Hu, Ying Chen, Zhijun Wu, M. Rami Alfarra, and Gordon McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 11303–11316, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-11303-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-11303-2021, 2021
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Michael Priestley, Thomas J. Bannan, Michael Le Breton, Stephen D. Worrall, Sungah Kang, Iida Pullinen, Sebastian Schmitt, Ralf Tillmann, Einhard Kleist, Defeng Zhao, Jürgen Wildt, Olga Garmash, Archit Mehra, Asan Bacak, Dudley E. Shallcross, Astrid Kiendler-Scharr, Åsa M. Hallquist, Mikael Ehn, Hugh Coe, Carl J. Percival, Mattias Hallquist, Thomas F. Mentel, and Gordon McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 3473–3490, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-3473-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-3473-2021, 2021
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A significant fraction of emissions from human activity consists of aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g. benzene, which oxidise to form new compounds important for particle growth. Characterisation of benzene oxidation products highlights the range of species produced as well as their chemical properties and contextualises them within relevant frameworks, e.g. MCM. Cluster analysis of the oxidation product time series distinguishes behaviours of CHON compounds that could aid in identifying functionality.
Simon Patrick O'Meara, Shuxuan Xu, David Topping, M. Rami Alfarra, Gerard Capes, Douglas Lowe, Yunqi Shao, and Gordon McFiggans
Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 675–702, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-675-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-675-2021, 2021
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User-friendly and open-source software for simulating aerosol chambers is a valuable tool for research scientists in designing and analysing their experiments. This paper describes a new version of such software and will therefore provide a useful reference for those applying it. Central to the paper is an assessment of the software's accuracy through comparison against previously published simulations.
Jessica Slater, Juha Tonttila, Gordon McFiggans, Paul Connolly, Sami Romakkaniemi, Thomas Kühn, and Hugh Coe
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 11893–11906, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-11893-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-11893-2020, 2020
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The feedback effect between aerosol particles, radiation and meteorology reduces turbulent motion and results in increased surface aerosol concentrations during Beijing haze. Observational analysis and regional modelling studies have examined the feedback effect but these studies are limited. In this work, we set up a high-resolution model for the Beijing environment to examine the sensitivity of the aerosol feedback effect to initial meteorological conditions and aerosol loading.
Yu Wang, Ying Chen, Zhijun Wu, Dongjie Shang, Yuxuan Bian, Zhuofei Du, Sebastian H. Schmitt, Rong Su, Georgios I. Gkatzelis, Patrick Schlag, Thorsten Hohaus, Aristeidis Voliotis, Keding Lu, Limin Zeng, Chunsheng Zhao, M. Rami Alfarra, Gordon McFiggans, Alfred Wiedensohler, Astrid Kiendler-Scharr, Yuanhang Zhang, and Min Hu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 2161–2175, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-2161-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-2161-2020, 2020
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Severe haze events, with high particulate nitrate (pNO3−) burden, frequently prevail in Beijing. In this study, we demonstrate a mutual-promotion effect between aerosol water uptake and pNO3− formation backed up by theoretical calculations and field observations throughout a typical pNO3−-dominated haze event in Beijing wintertime. This self-amplified mutual-promotion effect between aerosol water content and particulate nitrate can rapidly deteriorate air quality and degrade visibility.
Olga Garmash, Matti P. Rissanen, Iida Pullinen, Sebastian Schmitt, Oskari Kausiala, Ralf Tillmann, Defeng Zhao, Carl Percival, Thomas J. Bannan, Michael Priestley, Åsa M. Hallquist, Einhard Kleist, Astrid Kiendler-Scharr, Mattias Hallquist, Torsten Berndt, Gordon McFiggans, Jürgen Wildt, Thomas F. Mentel, and Mikael Ehn
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 515–537, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-515-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-515-2020, 2020
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Highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs) facilitate aerosol formation in the atmosphere. Using NO3− chemical ionization mass spectrometry we investigated HOM composition and yield in oxidation of aromatic compounds at different reactant concentrations, in the presence of NOx and seed aerosol. Higher OH concentrations increased HOM yield, suggesting multiple oxidation steps, and affected HOM composition, potentially explaining in part discrepancies in published secondary organic aerosol yields.
Ying Chen, Oliver Wild, Edmund Ryan, Saroj Kumar Sahu, Douglas Lowe, Scott Archer-Nicholls, Yu Wang, Gordon McFiggans, Tabish Ansari, Vikas Singh, Ranjeet S. Sokhi, Alex Archibald, and Gufran Beig
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 499–514, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-499-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-499-2020, 2020
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PM2.5 and O3 are two major air pollutants. Some mitigation strategies focusing on reducing PM2.5 may lead to substantial increase in O3. We use statistical emulation combined with atmospheric transport model to perform thousands of sensitivity numerical studies to identify the major sources of PM2.5 and O3 and to develop strategies targeted at both pollutants. Our scientific evidence suggests that regional coordinated emission control is required to mitigate PM2.5 whilst preventing O3 increase.
Zongbo Shi, Tuan Vu, Simone Kotthaus, Roy M. Harrison, Sue Grimmond, Siyao Yue, Tong Zhu, James Lee, Yiqun Han, Matthias Demuzere, Rachel E. Dunmore, Lujie Ren, Di Liu, Yuanlin Wang, Oliver Wild, James Allan, W. Joe Acton, Janet Barlow, Benjamin Barratt, David Beddows, William J. Bloss, Giulia Calzolai, David Carruthers, David C. Carslaw, Queenie Chan, Lia Chatzidiakou, Yang Chen, Leigh Crilley, Hugh Coe, Tie Dai, Ruth Doherty, Fengkui Duan, Pingqing Fu, Baozhu Ge, Maofa Ge, Daobo Guan, Jacqueline F. Hamilton, Kebin He, Mathew Heal, Dwayne Heard, C. Nicholas Hewitt, Michael Hollaway, Min Hu, Dongsheng Ji, Xujiang Jiang, Rod Jones, Markus Kalberer, Frank J. Kelly, Louisa Kramer, Ben Langford, Chun Lin, Alastair C. Lewis, Jie Li, Weijun Li, Huan Liu, Junfeng Liu, Miranda Loh, Keding Lu, Franco Lucarelli, Graham Mann, Gordon McFiggans, Mark R. Miller, Graham Mills, Paul Monk, Eiko Nemitz, Fionna O'Connor, Bin Ouyang, Paul I. Palmer, Carl Percival, Olalekan Popoola, Claire Reeves, Andrew R. Rickard, Longyi Shao, Guangyu Shi, Dominick Spracklen, David Stevenson, Yele Sun, Zhiwei Sun, Shu Tao, Shengrui Tong, Qingqing Wang, Wenhua Wang, Xinming Wang, Xuejun Wang, Zifang Wang, Lianfang Wei, Lisa Whalley, Xuefang Wu, Zhijun Wu, Pinhua Xie, Fumo Yang, Qiang Zhang, Yanli Zhang, Yuanhang Zhang, and Mei Zheng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 7519–7546, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-7519-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-7519-2019, 2019
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APHH-Beijing is a collaborative international research programme to study the sources, processes and health effects of air pollution in Beijing. This introduction to the special issue provides an overview of (i) the APHH-Beijing programme, (ii) the measurement and modelling activities performed as part of it and (iii) the air quality and meteorological conditions during joint intensive field campaigns as a core activity within APHH-Beijing.
Thomas J. Bannan, Michael Le Breton, Michael Priestley, Stephen D. Worrall, Asan Bacak, Nicholas A. Marsden, Archit Mehra, Julia Hammes, Mattias Hallquist, M. Rami Alfarra, Ulrich K. Krieger, Jonathan P. Reid, John Jayne, Wade Robinson, Gordon McFiggans, Hugh Coe, Carl J. Percival, and Dave Topping
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 1429–1439, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-1429-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-1429-2019, 2019
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The Filter Inlet for Gases and AEROsols (FIGAERO) is an inlet designed to be coupled with a high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-CIMS) and provides simultaneous molecular information relating to both the gas- and particle-phase samples. This method has been used to extract vapour pressures of compounds whilst giving quantitative concentrations in the particle phase. Here we detail an ideal set of benchmark compounds for characterization of the FIGAERO.
Dawei Hu, David Topping, and Gordon McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 14925–14937, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-14925-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-14925-2018, 2018
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Co-condensation of inorganic or organic vapours on growing droplets could significantly enhance both CCN and cloud droplet number concentration, thereby influencing climate. Until now, there has been very few direct observational evidence of this process. We exposed involatile inorganic particles to a moist atmosphere containing a controlled amount of an organic semi-volatile vapour. We measured a much greater growth of the particles than if they had only been exposed to water vapour.
Matthew Crooks, Paul Connolly, and Gordon McFiggans
Geosci. Model Dev., 11, 3261–3278, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-3261-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-3261-2018, 2018
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Clouds form when water condenses onto particles in the atmosphere and the size and chemical composition of these particles can have a large influence over how much water condenses and the subsequent formation of cloud. Additional gases exist in the atmosphere that can condense onto the aerosol particles and change their composition. We present a fast and efficient method of calculating the effect of atmospheric gases on the formation of cloud that can be used in climate and weather models.
Kelly L. Pereira, Rachel Dunmore, James Whitehead, M. Rami Alfarra, James D. Allan, Mohammed S. Alam, Roy M. Harrison, Gordon McFiggans, and Jacqueline F. Hamilton
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 11073–11096, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-11073-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-11073-2018, 2018
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Exhaust emissions from a light-duty diesel engine were introduced into an atmospheric simulation chamber which was used as a holding-cell for sampling, allowing instruments capable of providing detailed chemical speciation of exhaust gas emissions to be used. The effect of different engine conditions on the exhaust gas composition was investigated. The exhaust composition changed considerably due to two influencing factors, engine combustion and diesel oxidative catalyst efficiency.
Wiebke Frey, Dawei Hu, James Dorsey, M. Rami Alfarra, Aki Pajunoja, Annele Virtanen, Paul Connolly, and Gordon McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 9393–9409, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-9393-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-9393-2018, 2018
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The coupled system of the Manchester Aerosol Chamber and Manchester Ice Cloud Chamber was used to study the ice-forming abilities of secondary
organic aerosol particles under mixed-phase cloud conditions. Given the vast abundance of secondary organic particles in the atmosphere, they
might present an important contribution to ice-nucleating particles. However, we find that in the studied temperature range (20 to 28 °C)
the secondary organic particles do not nucleate ice particles.
Emma L. Simpson, Paul J. Connolly, and Gordon McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 7237–7250, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-7237-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-7237-2018, 2018
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This study explores the process of ice formation in clouds by conducting computer model simulations and laboratory experiments in a cloud chamber. We show that the formation of ice in clouds can be limited by the presence of atmospheric aerosol particles and that further research is required to identify the requirements for freezing, e.g. minimum mass of water, in order to accurately calculate ice formation and thus improve climate and weather prediction.
Kathryn Fowler, Paul J. Connolly, David O. Topping, and Simon O'Meara
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 1629–1642, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-1629-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-1629-2018, 2018
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This is the first time the Maxwell–Stefan framework has been applied to an atmospheric aerosol core–shell model and shows that there is a complex interplay between the viscous and solubility effects on aerosol composition. Understanding aerosol composition is essential to accurately model their interactions within atmospheric systems. We use simple binary systems to demonstrate how viscosity and solubility both play a role in affecting the rate of diffusion through aerosol particles.
Simon O'Meara, David O. Topping, Rahul A. Zaveri, and Gordon McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 10477–10494, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-10477-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-10477-2017, 2017
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To simulate particle-phase diffusion, an analytical expression is desired because it takes less calculation time than a differential equation. Here a correction is found for the analytical solution for when diffusivity is dependent on composition, thereby making it more widely applicable than before. Consequently, we are able to more realistically evaluate the rate limitation (if any) imposed by particle-phase diffusion on component partitioning between the gas and particle phase.
Huan Yao, Yu Song, Mingxu Liu, Scott Archer-Nicholls, Douglas Lowe, Gordon McFiggans, Tingting Xu, Pin Du, Jianfeng Li, Yusheng Wu, Min Hu, Chun Zhao, and Tong Zhu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 5205–5219, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-5205-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-5205-2017, 2017
François Benduhn, Graham W. Mann, Kirsty J. Pringle, David O. Topping, Gordon McFiggans, and Kenneth S. Carslaw
Geosci. Model Dev., 9, 3875–3906, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-3875-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-3875-2016, 2016
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We present a new mathematical formalism that serves to represent exchanges of inorganic matter between the atmosphere gas phase and the aerosol aqueous phase. In a global modelling framework, taking into account these processes may help represent many important features more accurately, such as the formation of cloud droplets or the radiative properties of the atmosphere. The formalism strives to keep an appropriate balance between accuracy and computation efficiency requirements.
Matthew Crooks, Paul Connolly, David Topping, and Gordon McFiggans
Geosci. Model Dev., 9, 3617–3637, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-3617-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-3617-2016, 2016
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Semi-volatile compounds, like water, can exist in both vapour phases and condensed phases within a system. This paper presents a method of calculating the condensed and vapour phases of semi-volatile compounds at equilibrium, in particular, when the condensed mass occurs within particles of different sizes and chemical composition. The applications of interest to the authors are those of atmospheric importance such as cloud droplet formation and reflection or absorption of solar radiation.
James D. Whitehead, Eoghan Darbyshire, Joel Brito, Henrique M. J. Barbosa, Ian Crawford, Rafael Stern, Martin W. Gallagher, Paul H. Kaye, James D. Allan, Hugh Coe, Paulo Artaxo, and Gordon McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 9727–9743, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-9727-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-9727-2016, 2016
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We present measurements of aerosols during the transition from wet to dry seasons at a pristine rainforest site in central Amazonia. By excluding pollution episodes, we focus on natural biogenic aerosols. Submicron aerosols are dominated by organic material, similar to previous wet season measurements. Larger particles are dominated by biological material, mostly fungal spores, with higher concentrations at night. This study provides important data on the nature of particles above the Amazon.
Scott Archer-Nicholls, Douglas Lowe, David M. Schultz, and Gordon McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 5573–5594, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-5573-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-5573-2016, 2016
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The response of the Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry to forcings by biomass burning aerosol were investigated in high-resolution nested domains over Brazil. The aerosol-layer was found to have a negative direct effect at the top of the atmosphere, but this was largely cancelled by a semi-direct effect which inhibited afternoon cloud formation. The cloud response to the aerosol was found to be highly sensitive to model resolution and the use of convective parameterisation.
Simon O'Meara, David O. Topping, and Gordon McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 5299–5313, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-5299-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-5299-2016, 2016
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To understand the effect of atmospheric particulate matter on climate and human health we need to know how it evolves. We investigate how best to estimate diffusion of components through particles by comparing diffusion times from three approaches to solving Fick's Law and find that they agree. This means that scientists can simulate Fickian diffusion through atmospheric particles using the approach best suited to their requirements and have confidence that their model is mathematically sound.
David Topping, Mark Barley, Michael K. Bane, Nicholas Higham, Bernard Aumont, Nicholas Dingle, and Gordon McFiggans
Geosci. Model Dev., 9, 899–914, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-899-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-899-2016, 2016
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In this paper we describe the development and application of a new web-based and open-source facility, UManSysProp (http://umansysprop .seaes.manchester.ac.uk), for automating predictions of molecular and atmospheric aerosol properties. Current facilities include pure component vapour pressures, critical properties, and sub-cooled densities of organic molecules; activity coefficient predictions for mixed inorganic-organic liquid systems; hygroscopic growth factors and CCN activation potential.
M. Paramonov, V.-M. Kerminen, M. Gysel, P. P. Aalto, M. O. Andreae, E. Asmi, U. Baltensperger, A. Bougiatioti, D. Brus, G. P. Frank, N. Good, S. S. Gunthe, L. Hao, M. Irwin, A. Jaatinen, Z. Jurányi, S. M. King, A. Kortelainen, A. Kristensson, H. Lihavainen, M. Kulmala, U. Lohmann, S. T. Martin, G. McFiggans, N. Mihalopoulos, A. Nenes, C. D. O'Dowd, J. Ovadnevaite, T. Petäjä, U. Pöschl, G. C. Roberts, D. Rose, B. Svenningsson, E. Swietlicki, E. Weingartner, J. Whitehead, A. Wiedensohler, C. Wittbom, and B. Sierau
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 12211–12229, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-12211-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-12211-2015, 2015
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The research paper presents the first comprehensive overview of field measurements with the CCN Counter performed at a large number of locations around the world within the EUCAARI framework. The paper sheds light on the CCN number concentrations and activated fractions around the world and their dependence on the water vapour supersaturation ratio, the dependence of aerosol hygroscopicity on particle size, and seasonal and diurnal variation of CCN activation and hygroscopic properties.
J. D. Allan, P. I. Williams, J. Najera, J. D. Whitehead, M. J. Flynn, J. W. Taylor, D. Liu, E. Darbyshire, L. J. Carpenter, R. Chance, S. J. Andrews, S. C. Hackenberg, and G. McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 5599–5609, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-5599-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-5599-2015, 2015
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New particle formation (NPF) is an important contributor to aerosol number concentrations in the Arctic and thus has a major role in dictating cloud properties and climate in this region. Here we present direct evidence that the oxidation of iodine in the atmosphere causes NPF in the Greenland Sea. This is important because this is a NPF mechanism that has not previously been considered in modelling studies at these latitudes.
M. D. Jolleys, H. Coe, G. McFiggans, J. W. Taylor, S. J. O'Shea, M. Le Breton, S. J.-B. Bauguitte, S. Moller, P. Di Carlo, E. Aruffo, P. I. Palmer, J. D. Lee, C. J. Percival, and M. W. Gallagher
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 3077–3095, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-3077-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-3077-2015, 2015
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Particulate emissions in the form of organic aerosol from boreal forest fires in Canada have been measured during an aircraft measurement campaign. Ratios of the amount of aerosol emitted relative to gas species such as CO were calculated and show high levels of variability throughout the campaign. This variability is affected by both changes in fire conditions, as fires tended to die down later in the measurement period, and by changes to the aerosol due to chemical reactions in the atmosphere.
S. Archer-Nicholls, D. Lowe, E. Darbyshire, W. T. Morgan, M. M. Bela, G. Pereira, J. Trembath, J. W. Kaiser, K. M. Longo, S. R. Freitas, H. Coe, and G. McFiggans
Geosci. Model Dev., 8, 549–577, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-8-549-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-8-549-2015, 2015
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The regional WRF-Chem model was used to study aerosol particles from biomass burning in South America. The modelled estimates of fire plume injection heights were found to be too high, with serious implications for modelled aerosol vertical distribution, transport and impacts on local climate. A modified emission scenario was developed which improved the predicted injection height. Model results were compared and evaluated against in situ measurements from the 2012 SAMBBA flight campaign.
D. Lowe, S. Archer-Nicholls, W. Morgan, J. Allan, S. Utembe, B. Ouyang, E. Aruffo, M. Le Breton, R. A. Zaveri, P. Di Carlo, C. Percival, H. Coe, R. Jones, and G. McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 1385–1409, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-1385-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-1385-2015, 2015
J. D. Whitehead, M. Irwin, J. D. Allan, N. Good, and G. McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 11833–11841, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-11833-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-11833-2014, 2014
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Water uptake of ambient particles was measured by 2 independent techniques at a wide range of locations between 2007 and 2013. The agreement between the techniques was mixed and hence the number of potential cloud seeds calculated from the measurements frequently showed discrepancies. Whilst there is sensitivity to how well we measure the size of the particles, much of the difference depends on how the particles behave when exposed to moisture in the different techniques (and in the atmosphere).
S. Archer-Nicholls, D. Lowe, S. Utembe, J. Allan, R. A. Zaveri, J. D. Fast, Ø. Hodnebrog, H. Denier van der Gon, and G. McFiggans
Geosci. Model Dev., 7, 2557–2579, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-7-2557-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-7-2557-2014, 2014
M. J. Lawler, J. Whitehead, C. O'Dowd, C. Monahan, G. McFiggans, and J. N. Smith
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 11557–11569, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-11557-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-11557-2014, 2014
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This work describes the chemical and physical characterization of very small (< 100 nm diameter) particles in the marine atmosphere. We show that sea salt is present even at very small sizes and present evidence that organic species are important contributors to apparent new particle formation events over the ocean.
E. Simpson, P. Connolly, and G. McFiggans
Geosci. Model Dev., 7, 1535–1542, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-7-1535-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-7-1535-2014, 2014
P. J. Connolly, D. O. Topping, F. Malavelle, and G. McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 2289–2302, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-2289-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-2289-2014, 2014
M. R. Alfarra, N. Good, K. P. Wyche, J. F. Hamilton, P. S. Monks, A. C. Lewis, and G. McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 11769–11789, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-11769-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-11769-2013, 2013
J. F. Hamilton, M. R. Alfarra, N. Robinson, M. W. Ward, A. C. Lewis, G. B. McFiggans, H. Coe, and J. D. Allan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 11295–11305, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-11295-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-11295-2013, 2013
D. Liu, J. Allan, J. Whitehead, D. Young, M. Flynn, H. Coe, G. McFiggans, Z. L. Fleming, and B. Bandy
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 2015–2029, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-2015-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-2015-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Fundamental Aerosol Research (FAR)
Growth of atmospheric freshly nucleated particles: a semi-empirical molecular dynamics study
Particle deliquescence in a turbulent humidity field
Investigation of soot precursor molecules during inception by acetylene pyrolysis using reactive molecular dynamics
The impact of unimolecular reactions on acyl peroxy radical initiated isoprene oxidation
Uptake of organic vapours and nitric acid on atmospheric freshly nucleated particles
Base synergy in freshly nucleated particles
Cluster-to-particle transition in atmospheric nanoclusters
Vertical concentrations gradients and transport of airborne microplastics in wind tunnel experiments
A cluster-of-functional-groups approach for studying organic enhanced atmospheric cluster formation
Photocatalytic chloride-to-chlorine conversion by ionic iron in aqueous aerosols: a combined experimental, quantum chemical, and chemical equilibrium model study
Yosef Knattrup, Ivo Neefjes, Jakub Kubečka, and Jonas Elm
Aerosol Research, 3, 237–251, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-237-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-237-2025, 2025
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Aerosols, a large uncertainty in climate modeling, can be formed when gas vapors and particles begin sticking together. Traditionally, these particles are assumed to behave like hard spheres that only stick together upon head-on collisions. In reality, particles can attract each other over distances, leading to more frequent sticking events. We found that traditional models significantly undercount these events, with real sticking rates being up to 2.4 times higher.
Dennis Niedermeier, Rasmus Hoffmann, Silvio Schmalfuss, Wiebke Frey, Fabian Senf, Olaf Hellmuth, Mira Pöhlker, and Frank Stratmann
Aerosol Research, 3, 219–230, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-219-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-219-2025, 2025
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This study examines the deliquescence behavior of NaCl particles in a turbulent humidity field using the wind tunnel LACIS-T (Turbulent Leipzig Aerosol Cloud Interaction Simulator). The results show that turbulent relative humidity (RH) fluctuations affect the number of deliquesced particles, depending on the mean RH, strength of humidity fluctuations, and particle residence time. It turns out that, in addition to the mean RH, it is essential to consider humidity fluctuations and particle history when determining the phase state of the deliquescent particles.
Anindya Ganguly, Khaled Mosharraf Mukut, Somesh Roy, Georgios Kelesidis, and Eirini Goudeli
Aerosol Research, 3, 185–203, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-185-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-185-2025, 2025
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The study explores the formation of small soot clusters by precursor molecules at high temperature. Higher temperature speeds up the decomposition of gas molecules, accelerating the formation of cyclic structures decorated by aliphatic chains. This research offers new insights into the early steps of soot formation, which could help develop more informed kinetic models for pyrolysis and combustion processes.
Ida Karppinen, Dominika Pasik, Emelda Ahongshangbam, and Nanna Myllys
Aerosol Research, 3, 175–183, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-175-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-175-2025, 2025
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Acyl peroxy radicals can act as atmospheric oxidants of unsaturated hydrocarbons if their 1) unimolecular reactions are slow and 2) bimolecular accretion reactions are fast. Using theoretical tools, we show which acyl peroxy radicals should be considered oxidants in the atmosphere.
Yosef Knattrup and Jonas Elm
Aerosol Research, 3, 125–137, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-125-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-125-2025, 2025
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Using quantum chemical methods, we studied the uptake of first-generation oxidation products onto freshly nucleated particles (FNPs). We find that pinic acid can condense on these small FNPs at realistic atmospheric conditions, thereby contributing to early particle growth. The mechanism involves two pinic acid molecules interacting with each other, showing that direct organic–organic interactions during co-condensation onto the particle contribute to the growth.
Galib Hasan, Haide Wu, Yosef Knattrup, and Jonas Elm
Aerosol Research, 3, 101–111, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-101-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-101-2025, 2025
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Aerosol formation is an important process for our global climate. However, there are high uncertainties associated with the formation of new aerosol particles. We present quantum chemical calculations of large atmospheric molecular clusters composed of sulfuric acid (SA), ammonia (AM), and dimethylamine (DMA). We find that mixed SA–AM–DMA systems cluster more efficiently for freshly nucleated particles compared to pure SA–AM and SA–DMA systems.
Haide Wu, Yosef Knattrup, Andreas Buchgraitz Jensen, and Jonas Elm
Aerosol Research, 2, 303–314, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-303-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-303-2024, 2024
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The exact point at which a given assembly of molecules represents an atmospheric molecular cluster or a particle remains ambiguous. Using quantum chemical methods, here we explore a cluster-to-particle transition point. Based on our results, we deduce a property-based criterion for defining freshly nucleated particles (FNPs) that act as a boundary between discrete cluster configurations and bulk particles.
Eike Maximilian Esders, Christoph Georgi, Wolfgang Babel, Andreas Held, and Christoph Karl Thomas
Aerosol Research, 2, 235–243, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-235-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-235-2024, 2024
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Our study explores how tiny plastic particles, known as microplastics (MPs), move through the air. We focus on their journey in a wind tunnel to mimic atmospheric transport. Depending on the air speed and the height of their release, they move downwards or upwards. These results suggest that MPs behave like mineral particles and that we can expect MPs to accumulate where natural dust also accumulates in the environment, offering insights for predicting the spread and impacts of MPs.
Astrid Nørskov Pedersen, Yosef Knattrup, and Jonas Elm
Aerosol Research, 2, 123–134, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-123-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-123-2024, 2024
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Aerosol formation is an important process for our global climate. While inorganic species have been shown to be important for aerosol formation, there remains a large gap in our knowledge about the exact involvement of organics. We present a new quantum chemical procedure for screening relevant organics that for the first time allows us to obtain direct molecular-level insight into the organics involved in aerosol formation.
Marie K. Mikkelsen, Jesper B. Liisberg, Maarten M. J. W. van Herpen, Kurt V. Mikkelsen, and Matthew S. Johnson
Aerosol Research, 2, 31–47, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-31-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-31-2024, 2024
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We analyze the mechanism whereby sunlight and iron catalyze the production of chlorine from chloride in sea spray aerosol. This process occurs naturally over the North Atlantic and is the single most important source of chlorine. We investigate the mechanism using quantum chemistry, laboratory experiments, and aqueous chemistry modelling. The process will change depending on competing ions, light distribution, acidity, and chloride concentration.
Cited articles
Aumont, B., Szopa, S., and Madronich, S.: Modelling the evolution of organic carbon during its gas-phase tropospheric oxidation: development of an explicit model based on a self generating approach, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 5, 2497–2517, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-5-2497-2005, 2005.
Bergman, T., Makkonen, R., Schrödner, R., Swietlicki, E., Phillips, V. T. J., Le Sager, P., and van Noije, T.: Description and evaluation of a secondary organic aerosol and new particle formation scheme within TM5-MP v1.2, Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 683–713, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-683-2022, 2022.
Berndt, T., Mentler, B., Scholz, W., Fischer, L., Herrmann, H., Kulmala, M., and Hansel, A.: Accretion Product Formation from Ozonolysis and OH Radical Reaction of α-Pinene: Mechanistic Insight and the Influence of Isoprene and Ethylene, Environ. Sci. Technol., 52, 11069–11077, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b02210, 2018a.
Berndt, T., Scholz, W., Mentler, B., Fischer, L., Herrmann, H., Kulmala, M., and Hansel, A.: Accretion Product Formation from Self- and Cross-Reactions of RO2 Radicals in the Atmosphere, Angew. Chem. Int. Edit., 57, 3820–3824, https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201710989, 2018b.
Bianchi, F., Kurtén, T., Riva, M., Mohr, C., Rissanen, M. P., Roldin, P., Berndt, T., Crounse, J. D., Wennberg, P. O., Mentel, T. F., Wildt, J., Junninen, H., Jokinen, T., Kulmala, M., Worsnop, D. R., Thornton, J. A., Donahue, N., Kjaergaard, H. G., and Ehn, M.: Highly Oxygenated Organic Molecules (HOM) from Gas-Phase Autoxidation Involving Peroxy Radicals: A Key Contributor to Atmospheric Aerosol, Chem. Rev., 119, 3472–3509, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00395, 2019.
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Camredon, M., Aumont, B., Lee-Taylor, J., and Madronich, S.: The SOA/VOC/NOx system: an explicit model of secondary organic aerosol formation, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 5599–5610, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-7-5599-2007, 2007.
Clusius, P., Xavier, C., Pichelstorfer, L., Zhou, P., Olenius, T., Roldin, P., and Boy, M.: Atmospherically Relevant Chemistry and Aerosol box model – ARCA box (version 1.2), Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 7257–7286, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-7257-2022, 2022.
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Daellenbach, K. R., Uzu, G., Jiang, J., Cassagnes, L.-E., Leni, Z., Vlachou, A., Stefenelli, G., Canonaco, F., Weber, S., Segers, A., Kuenen, J. J. P., Schaap, M., Favez, O., Albinet, A., Aksoyoglu, S., Dommen, J., Baltensperger, U., Geiser, M., El Haddad, I., Jaffrezo, J.-L., and Prévôt, A. S. H.: Sources of particulate-matter air pollution and its oxidative potential in Europe, Nature, 587, 414–419, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2902-8, 2020.
Donahue, N. M., Robinson, A. L., Stanier, C. O., and Pandis, S. N.: Coupled Partitioning, Dilution, and Chemical Aging of Semivolatile Organics, Environ. Sci. Technol., 40, 2635–2643, https://doi.org/10.1021/es052297c, 2006.
Donahue, N. M., Epstein, S. A., Pandis, S. N., and Robinson, A. L.: A two-dimensional volatility basis set: 1. organic-aerosol mixing thermodynamics, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 3303–3318, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-3303-2011, 2011.
Ehn, M., Thornton, J. A., Kleist, E., Sipilä, M., Junninen, H., Pullinen, I., Springer, M., Rubach, F., Tillmann, R., Lee, B., Lopez-Hilfiker, F., Andres, S., Acir, I.-H., Rissanen, M., Jokinen, T., Schobesberger, S., Kangasluoma, J., Kontkanen, J., Nieminen, T., Kurtén, T., Nielsen, L. B., Jørgensen, S., Kjaergaard, H. G., Canagaratna, M., Maso, M. D., Berndt, T., Petäjä, T., Wahner, A., Kerminen, V.-M., Kulmala, M., Worsnop, D. R., Wildt, J., and Mentel, T. F.: A large source of low-volatility secondary organic aerosol, Nature, 506, 476–479, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13032, 2014.
Franzon, L., Camredon, M., Valorso, R., Aumont, B., and Kurtén, T.: Ether and ester formation from peroxy radical recombination: a qualitative reaction channel analysis, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11679–11699, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11679-2024, 2024.
Goldman, M. J., Green, W. H., and Kroll, J. H.: Chemistry of Simple Organic Peroxy Radicals under Atmospheric through Combustion Conditions: Role of Temperature, Pressure, and NOx Level, J. Phys. Chem. A, 125, 10303–10314, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.1c07203, 2021.
Hallquist, M., Wenger, J. C., Baltensperger, U., Rudich, Y., Simpson, D., Claeys, M., Dommen, J., Donahue, N. M., George, C., Goldstein, A. H., Hamilton, J. F., Herrmann, H., Hoffmann, T., Iinuma, Y., Jang, M., Jenkin, M. E., Jimenez, J. L., Kiendler-Scharr, A., Maenhaut, W., McFiggans, G., Mentel, Th. F., Monod, A., Prévôt, A. S. H., Seinfeld, J. H., Surratt, J. D., Szmigielski, R., and Wildt, J.: The formation, properties and impact of secondary organic aerosol: current and emerging issues, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 5155–5236, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-5155-2009, 2009.
Hyttinen, N., Otkjær, R. V., Iyer, S., Kjaergaard, H. G., Rissanen, M. P., Wennberg, P. O., and Kurtén, T.: Computational Comparison of Different Reagent Ions in the Chemical Ionization of Oxidized Multifunctional Compounds, J. Phys. Chem. A, 122, 269–279, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.7b10015, 2018.
Iyer, S., Kumar, A., Savolainen, A., Barua, S., Daub, C., Pichelstorfer, L., Roldin, P., Garmash, O., Seal, P., Kurtén, T., and Rissanen, M.: Molecular rearrangement of bicyclic peroxy radicals is a key route to aerosol from aromatics, Nat. Commun., 14, 4984, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40675-2, 2023.
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Short summary
Quantification of autoxidation chemistry is a complex task essential to our understanding of atmospheric secondary aerosol formation and its impact on climate. In this work, we introduce the autoCONSTRAINT module, a semi-empirical method for deducing reaction rate coefficients for lumped autoxidation chemistry schemes based on experimental data. The theoretical approach is analytical and provides mathematically correct though non-unique solutions with low computational cost.
Quantification of autoxidation chemistry is a complex task essential to our understanding of...
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