Open AccessPartitioning of reactive atmospheric nitrogen oxides at an elevated site in southern Quebec, Canada
Author(s) -
Hayden K. L.,
Anlauf K. G.,
Hastie D. R.,
Bottenheim J. W.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2002jd003188
Subject(s) - reactive nitrogen , nitrogen , environmental science , mixing ratio , atmospheric sciences , atmosphere (unit) , nitrate , nitrogen oxides , aerosol , environmental chemistry , seasonality , climatology , chemistry , geography , meteorology , geology , ecology , organic chemistry , engineering , waste management , biology
Measurements of the major reactive nitrogen oxides including NO, NO 2 , HNO 3 , particulate nitrate, PAN, and NO y , as well as O 3 and supporting meteorology, were made at an elevated site (845 masl) in the rural eastern townships of Quebec, Canada, from February 1998 to October 1999. NO x (and NO y ) mixing ratios exhibited a distinct seasonal cycle with median NO x levels in winter more than a factor of 4 greater than in summer. Seasonal partitioning indicated that NO x was the dominant fraction of NO y during winter (>70%), with HNO 3 and PAN fractions of <18 and 9%, respectively. The NO y reservoir in summer consisted of average contributions from NO x , HNO 3 , and PAN of 35, 20–25, and 13%, respectively. A NO y deficit of the order of 25–30% was observed during spring and summer that could not be explained by measurement uncertainties or potential interferences. It is possible that there were other reactive nitrogen species in the atmosphere that were not separately measured that contributed to the NO y deficit. Indications are that these compounds were photochemically produced and present in highly processed air masses.