Open AccessSource and Chemistry of Hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS) in Fairbanks, Alaska
Author(s) -
J. Argyll Campbell,
Michael A. Battaglia,
Meeta CeslerMaloney,
J. M. St Clair,
T. F. Hanisco,
W. R. Simpson,
R. J. Weber,
J. Mao
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
environmental science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.851
H-Index - 397
eISSN - 1520-5851
pISSN - 0013-936X
DOI - 10.1021/acs.est.2c00410
Subject(s) - environmental chemistry , subarctic climate , sulfate , aerosol , air quality index , pollution , sulfur , air pollution , environmental science , inorganic ions , atmospheric sciences , particulates , chemistry , air mass (solar energy) , meteorology , ion , oceanography , geology , geography , ecology , physics , organic chemistry , boundary layer , biology , thermodynamics
Fairbanks, Alaska, is a subarctic city with fine particle (PM 2.5 ) concentrations that exceed air quality regulations in winter due to weak dispersion caused by strong atmospheric inversions, local emissions, and the unique chemistry occurring under the cold and dark conditions. Here, we report on observations from the winters of 2020 and 2021, motivated by our pilot study that showed exceptionally high concentrations of fine particle hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS) or related sulfur(IV) species (e.g., sulfite and bisulfite). We deployed online particle-into-liquid sampler-ion chromatography (PILS-IC) in conjunction with a suite of instruments to determine HMS precursors (HCHO, SO 2 ) and aerosol composition in general, with the goal to characterize the sources and sinks of HMS in wintertime Fairbanks. PM 2.5 HMS comprised a significant fraction of PM 2.5 sulfur (26-41%) and overall PM 2.5 mass concentration of 2.8-6.8% during pollution episodes, substantially higher than what has been observed in other regions, likely due to the exceptionally low temperatures. HMS peaked in January, with lower concentrations in December and February, resulting from changes in precursors and meteorological conditions. Strong correlations with inorganic sulfate and organic mass during pollution events suggest that HMS is linked to processes responsible for poor air quality episodes. These findings demonstrate unique aspects of air pollution formation in cold and humid atmospheres.