The Synergistic Role of Sulfuric Acid, Bases, and Oxidized Organics Governing New‐Particle Formation in Beijing
Chao Yan, Rujing Yin, Yiqun Lu, Lubna Dada, Dongsen Yang, Yueyun Fu, Jenni Kontkanen, Chenjuan Deng, Olga Garmаsh, Jia‐Xin Ruan, Rima Baalbaki, Meredith Schervish, Runlong Cai, Matthew Bloss, Tommy Chan, Tianzeng Chen, Qi Chen, Xuemeng Chen, Yan Chen, Biwu Chu, Kaspar Rudolf Dällenbach, Benjamin Foreback, Xu‐Cheng He, Liine Heikkinen, Tuija Jokinen, Heikki Junninen, Juha Kangasluoma, Tom Kokkonen, Mona Kurppa, Katrianne Lehtipalo, Haiyan Li, Hui Li, Xiaoxiao Li, Yiliang Liu, Qingxin Ma, Pauli Paasonen, Pekka Rantala, Rosaria E. Pileci, Anton Rusanen, Nina Sarnela, Pauli Simonen, Shixian Wang, Weigang Wang, Yonghong Wang, Mo Xue, Gan Yang, Lei Yao, Ying Zhou, Joni Kujansuu, Tuukka Petäjä, Wei Nie, Yan Ma, Maofa Ge, Hong He, Neil M. Donahue, Douglas R. Worsnop, Veli‐Matti Kerminen, Lin Wang, Yongchun Liu, Jun Zheng, Markku Kulmala, Jingkun Jiang, Federico Bianchi
Abstract
Abstract Intense and frequent new particle formation (NPF) events have been observed in polluted urban environments, yet the dominant mechanisms are still under debate. To understand the key species and governing processes of NPF in polluted urban environments, we conducted comprehensive measurements in downtown Beijing during January–March, 2018. We performed detailed analyses on sulfuric acid cluster composition and budget, as well as the chemical and physical properties of oxidized organic molecules (OOMs). Our results demonstrate that the fast clustering of sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) and base molecules triggered the NPF events, and OOMs further helped grow the newly formed particles toward climate‐ and health‐relevant sizes. This synergistic role of H 2 SO 4 , base species, and OOMs in NPF is likely representative of polluted urban environments where abundant H 2 SO 4 and base species usually co‐exist, and OOMs are with moderately low volatility when produced under high NO x concentrations.