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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 108, NO. D11, 4329, doi:10.1029/2002JD002897, 2003

Emission sources and ocean uptake of acetonitrile (CH₃CN) in the atmosphere

J. A. de Gouw

NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, USA

C. Warneke

NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, USA

D. D. Parrish

NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, USA

J. S. Holloway

NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, USA

M. Trainer

NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, USA

F. C. Fehsenfeld

NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, USA

Abstract

Airborne measurements of acetonitrile (CH₃CN) were made off the U.S. west coast, over California, and during two transfer flights over the U.S. in April and May of 2002. Acetonitrile was strongly enhanced in the plumes from two forest fires, confirming the usefulness of the measurement as an indicator for biomass burning emissions. The emission ratios relative to CO of acetonitrile in the two plumes were slightly higher than previously reported values for fires burning in other fuel types. No significant acetonitrile release was observed in the Los Angeles basin or from other point sources (ships and a power plant). Acetonitrile concentrations were significantly reduced in the marine boundary layer indicating the presence of an ocean uptake sink. Increased loss of acetonitrile was observed close to the coast, suggesting that acetonitrile was efficiently lost by dissolving in the upwelling ocean water, or by biological processes in the surface water.

Received 29 August 2002; accepted 7 March 2003; published 3 June 2003.

Index Terms: 0312 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Air/sea constituent fluxes (3339, 4504); 0322 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Constituent sources and sinks; 0365 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Troposphere—composition and chemistry.

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Citation: de Gouw, J. A., C. Warneke, D. D. Parrish, J. S. Holloway, M. Trainer, and F. C. Fehsenfeld (2003), Emission sources and ocean uptake of acetonitrile (CH₃CN) in the atmosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 108(D11), 4329, doi:10.1029/2002JD002897.

Copyright 2003 by the American Geophysical Union.