Title
Organic aerosol concentration and composition over Europe: Insights from comparison of regional model predictions with aerosol mass spectrometer factor analysis
Author
Fountoukis, C.
Megaritis, A.G.
Skyllakou, K.
Charalampidis, P.E.
Pilinis, C.
Denier Van Der Gon, H.A.C.
Crippa, M.
Canonaco, F.
Mohr, C.
Prévôt, A.S.H.
Allan, J.D.
Poulain, L.
Petäjä, T.
Tiitta, P.
Carbone, S.
Kiendler-Scharr, A.
Nemitz, E.
O'Dowd, C.
Swietlicki, E.
Pandis, S.N.
Publication year
2014
Abstract
A detailed three-dimensional regional chemical transport model (Particulate Matter Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions, PMCAMx) was applied over Europe, focusing on the formation and chemical transformation of organic matter. Three periods representative of different seasons were simulated, corresponding to intensive field campaigns. An extensive set of AMS measurements was used to evaluate the model and, using factor-analysis results, gain more insight into the sources and transformations of organic aerosol (OA). Overall, the agreement between predictions and measurements for OA concentration is encouraging, with the model reproducing two-thirds of the data (daily average mass concentrations) within a factor of 2. Oxygenated OA (OOA) is predicted to contribute 93% to total OA during May, 87% during winter and 96% during autumn, with the rest consisting of fresh primary OA (POA). Predicted OOA concentrations compare well with the observed OOA values for all periods, with an average fractional error of 0.53 and a bias equal to g 0.07 (mean error Combining double low line 0.9 1/4g mg 3, mean bias Combining double low line g 0.2 1/4g m−3). The model systematically underpredicts fresh POA at most sites during late spring and autumn (mean bias up to g 0.8 1/4g m−3). Based on results from a source apportionment algorithm running in parallel with PMCAMx, most of the POA originates from biomass burning (fires and residential wood combustion), and therefore biomass burning OA is most likely underestimated in the emission inventory. The sensitivity of POA predictions to the corresponding emissions' volatility distribution is discussed. The model performs well at all sites when the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF)-estimated low-volatility OOA is compared against the OA with saturation concentrations of the OA surrogate species C∗ ≤ 0.1 1/4g mg 3 and semivolatile OOA against the OA with C∗ > 0.1 1/4g mg 3.
Subject
Earth / Environmental
CAS - Climate, Air and Sustainability
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Urban Development
Environment
Built Environment
aerosol
algorithm
autumn
biomass burning
concentration (composition)
emission inventory
factor analysis
mass spectrometry
organic matter
prediction
three-dimensional modeling
winter
Europe
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:9cb01cca-cdc9-422e-8747-a89c0a358caa
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-9061-2014
TNO identifier
516532
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
ISSN
1680-7316
Source
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 14 (17), 9061-9076
Document type
article