Organic compounds from macroalgal emission dominate new particle growth
initiated by iodine species in coastal atmosphere
Abstract
Iodine-initiated new particle formation (I-NPF) has long been recognized
in coastal hotspot regions. However, no prior work has studied the exact
chemical composition of organic compounds and their role in the coastal
I-NPF. Here we present an important complementary study to the ongoing
laboratory and field researches of iodine nucleation in coastal
atmosphere. Oxidation and NPF experiments with vapor emissions from
real-world coastal macroalgae were simulated in a bag reactor. On the
basis of comprehensive mass spectrometry measurements, we reported for
the first time a series of volatile precursors and their oxidation
products in gas and particle phases in such a highly complex system.
Organic compounds overwhelmingly dominated over iodine in the new
particle growth initiated by iodine species. This study provided a more
complete story of coastal NPF from low-tide macroalgal emission.