Heterogeneous Reactions in Atmospheric Aerosols Observed Using ATOFMS

The heterogeneous aging of natural atmospheric particles by reactive gases in the troposphere has been investigated in a flow-tube reactor using Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (ATOFMS) to monitor changes in the particle composition in real-time. Sea- salt and mineral dust aerosols were introduced into the flow tube simultaneously and reacted with nitric acid in a relative rate experiment. ATOFMS is a single-particle technique and thus enables us to distinguish which particle type accumulates more nitric acid. This allows us to determine if the differing surface area or kinetics is driving the partitioning of nitric acid between the sea salt and dust. The results of these and other aerosol flow-tube kinetics experiments will be presented.Ê The atmospheric implications will be emphasized, particularly in relation to observations made by ATOFMS of heterogeneous reactions occurring in particles over the Pacific Ocean during ACE-Asia.