Abstract
We report the first observations of the emission of five C1-C4 alkyl nitrates (methyl-, ethyl-, n-propyl-, i-propyl-, and 2-butyl nitrate) from savanna burning. Average alkyl nitrate mixing ratios in the immediate vicinity of three bushfires in Northern Australia were 47-122 times higher than local background mixing ratios. These are the highest alkyl nitrate mixing ratios we have ever detected, with maximum mixing ratios exceeding 3 ppbv for methyl nitrate. Methyl nitrate dominated the alkyl nitrate emissions during the flaming stage of savanna burning, whereas C2-C4 alkyl nitrates were mostly emitted during the smoldering stage. To explain the formation of alkyl nitrates from biomass burning, we propose a reaction mechanism involving the combination of reactive radicals at high temperature. Bearing in mind the uncertainties associated with extrapolating small data sets to much larger scales, alkyl nitrate emissions from global savanna burning are estimated to be on the order of 8 Gg/yr.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 016290 |
| Journal | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 24 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 15 2002 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
- Geophysics
Cite this
A biomass burning source of C1-C4 alkyl nitrates. / Simpson, Isobel J.; Meinardi, Simone; Blake, Donald R.; Blake, Nicola J.; Rowland, F. Sherwood; Atlas, Elliot L; Flocke, Frank.
In: Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 29, No. 24, 016290, 15.12.2002.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A biomass burning source of C1-C4 alkyl nitrates
AU - Simpson, Isobel J.
AU - Meinardi, Simone
AU - Blake, Donald R.
AU - Blake, Nicola J.
AU - Rowland, F. Sherwood
AU - Atlas, Elliot L
AU - Flocke, Frank
PY - 2002/12/15
Y1 - 2002/12/15
N2 - We report the first observations of the emission of five C1-C4 alkyl nitrates (methyl-, ethyl-, n-propyl-, i-propyl-, and 2-butyl nitrate) from savanna burning. Average alkyl nitrate mixing ratios in the immediate vicinity of three bushfires in Northern Australia were 47-122 times higher than local background mixing ratios. These are the highest alkyl nitrate mixing ratios we have ever detected, with maximum mixing ratios exceeding 3 ppbv for methyl nitrate. Methyl nitrate dominated the alkyl nitrate emissions during the flaming stage of savanna burning, whereas C2-C4 alkyl nitrates were mostly emitted during the smoldering stage. To explain the formation of alkyl nitrates from biomass burning, we propose a reaction mechanism involving the combination of reactive radicals at high temperature. Bearing in mind the uncertainties associated with extrapolating small data sets to much larger scales, alkyl nitrate emissions from global savanna burning are estimated to be on the order of 8 Gg/yr.
AB - We report the first observations of the emission of five C1-C4 alkyl nitrates (methyl-, ethyl-, n-propyl-, i-propyl-, and 2-butyl nitrate) from savanna burning. Average alkyl nitrate mixing ratios in the immediate vicinity of three bushfires in Northern Australia were 47-122 times higher than local background mixing ratios. These are the highest alkyl nitrate mixing ratios we have ever detected, with maximum mixing ratios exceeding 3 ppbv for methyl nitrate. Methyl nitrate dominated the alkyl nitrate emissions during the flaming stage of savanna burning, whereas C2-C4 alkyl nitrates were mostly emitted during the smoldering stage. To explain the formation of alkyl nitrates from biomass burning, we propose a reaction mechanism involving the combination of reactive radicals at high temperature. Bearing in mind the uncertainties associated with extrapolating small data sets to much larger scales, alkyl nitrate emissions from global savanna burning are estimated to be on the order of 8 Gg/yr.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84899012467&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84899012467&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2002GL016290
DO - 10.1029/2002GL016290
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84899012467
VL - 29
JO - Geophysical Research Letters
JF - Geophysical Research Letters
SN - 0094-8276
IS - 24
M1 - 016290
ER -