Molecular Composition of Oxygenated Organic Molecules and Their Contributions to Organic Aerosol in Beijing
Yonghong Wang, Yonghong Wang, Petri Clusius, Chao Yan, Kaspar Rudolf Dällenbach, Rujing Yin, Mingyi Wang, Xu‐Cheng He, Biwu Chu, Yiqun Lu, Lubna Dada, Juha Kangasluoma, Pekka Rantala, Chenjuan Deng, Zhuohui Lin, Weigang Wang, Lei Yao, Xiaolong Fan, Wei Du, Jing Cai, Liine Heikkinen, Yee Jun Tham, Qiaozhi Zha, Zhenhao Ling, Heikki Junninen, Tuukka Petäjä, Maofa Ge, Yuesi Wang, Yuesi Wang, Hong He, Douglas R. Worsnop, Veli‐Matti Kerminen, Federico Bianchi, Lin Wang, Jingkun Jiang, Yongchun Liu, Michael Boy, Mikael Ehn, Neil M. Donahue, Markku Kulmala
Abstract
The understanding at a molecular level of ambient secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation is hampered by poorly constrained formation mechanisms and insufficient analytical methods. Especially in developing countries, SOA related haze is a great concern due to its significant effects on climate and human health. We present simultaneous measurements of gas-phase volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oxygenated organic molecules (OOMs), and particle-phase SOA in Beijing. We show that condensation of the measured OOMs explains 26-39% of the organic aerosol mass growth, with the contribution of OOMs to SOA enhanced during severe haze episodes. Our novel results provide a quantitative molecular connection from anthropogenic emissions to condensable organic oxidation product vapors, their concentration in particle-phase SOA, and ultimately to haze formation.