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Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) is an important chemical species in the troposphere as it aids the long-range transport of NOx and subsequent formation of O3 in relatively clean remote regions. Over the past few decades observations from aircraft campaigns and surface sites have been used to better understand the regional distribution of PAN. However, recent measurements made by satellites allow for a global assessment of PAN in the upper troposphere - lower stratosphere (UTLS). In this study, we investigate global PAN distributions from two independent retrieval methodologies, based on measurements from the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) instrument, on board ENVISAT from the Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester (UoL). Retrieving PAN from MIPAS is challenging due to the weak signal in the measurements and contamination from other species. Therefore, we compare the two MIPAS datasets with observations from the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS), insitu aircraft data and the TOMCAT 3-D chemical transport model. MIPAS shows peak UTLS PAN concentrations over the biomass burning regions (e.g. ranging from 150 to > 200 pptv at 150 hPa) and during the summertime Asian monsoon as enhanced convection aids the vertical transport of PAN from the lower atmosphere. At 150 hPa, we find significant differences between the two MIPAS datasets in the tropics, where IMK PAN concentrations are larger by 50-100 pptv. Comparisons between MIPAS and ACE-FTS show better agreement with the UoL MIPAS PAN concentrations at 200 hPa, but with mixed results above this altitude. TOMCAT generally captures the magnitude and structure of climatological aircraft PAN profiles within the observational variability allowing it to be used to investigate the MIPAS PAN differences. TOMCAT-MIPAS comparisons show that the model is both positively (UoL) and negatively (IMK) biased against the satellite products. These results show that satellite PAN observations are able to detect realistic spatial variations in PAN in the UTLS, but further work is needed to resolve differences in existing retrievals to allow quantitative use of the products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements at high-Arctic sites show a strong seasonal cycle in aerosol number and size. The number of aerosols with diameters larger than 20nm exhibits a maximum in late spring associated with a dominant accumulation mode (0.1 to 1 µm in diameter), and a second maximum in the summer associated with a dominant Aitken mode (10 to 100nm in diameter). Seasonal-mean aerosol effective diameter ranges from about 180nm in summer to 260nm in winter. This study interprets these seasonal cycles with the GEOS-Chem-TOMAS global aerosol microphysics model. We find improved agreement with in-situ measurements of aerosol size at both Alert, Nunavut, and Mt. Zeppelin, Svalbard following model developments that: (1) increase the efficiency of wet scavenging in the Arctic summer and (2) represent coagulation between interstitial aerosols and aerosols activated to form cloud droplets. Our simulations indicate that the dominant summertime Aitken mode is associated with increased efficiency of wet removal, which limits the number of larger aerosols and promotes local new-particle formation. We also find an important role of interstitial coagulation in clouds in the Arctic, which limits the number of Aitken-mode aerosols in the non-summer seasons when direct wet removal of these aerosols is inefficient. Total aerosol number reaches a minimum in October at both Alert and Mt. Zeppelin. Our simulations indicate that this October minimum can be explained by diminishing local new-particle formation, limited transport of pollution from lower latitudes, and efficient wet removal. We recommend that the key processes of aerosol wet removal, interstitial coagulation and new-particle formation be carefully considered in size-resolved aerosol simulations of the Arctic. Uncertainties about these processes, which strongly control the seasonal cycle of aerosol number and size, limit confidence in estimates of aerosol radiative effects on the Arctic climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have used a global three-dimensional chemical transport model to quantify the impact of the very short-lived species (VSLS) CHBr3, CH2Br2, CHBr2Cl, CHBrCl2, CH2BrCl and C2H5Br on the bromine budget of the stratosphere. Atmospheric observations of these gases allow constraints on surface mixing ratios that, when incorporated into our model, contribute ~4.9-5.2 parts per trillion (ppt) of inorganic bromine (Bry) to the stratosphere. Of this total, ~76% comes from naturally-emitted CHBr3 and CH2Br2. The remaining species individually contribute modest amounts. However, their accumulated total accounts for up to ~1.2 ppt of the supply and thus should not be ignored. We have compared modelled tropical profiles of a range of VSLS with observations from the recent 2009 NSF HIPPO-1 aircraft campaign. Modelled profiles agree reasonably well with observations from the surface to the lower tropical tropopause layer. We have also considered the poorly studied anthropogenic VSLS, C2H5Br, CH2BrCH2Br, n-C3H7Br and i-C3H7Br. We find the local atmospheric lifetime of these species in the tropical tropopause layer are ~183, 603, 39 and 49 days, respectively. These species, particularly C2H5Br and CH2BrCH2Br, would thus be important carriers of bromine to the stratosphere if emissions were to increase substantially. Our model shows ~70-73% and ~80-85% of bromine from these species in the tropical boundary layer can reach the lower stratosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the number concentration of atmospheric Aitken particles by a combination of in-situ meteorological and gas phase parameters. The study uses a Global Model of Aerosol Processes (GLOMAP) to describe the factors which affect the growth of newly formed aerosol particles. It concludes that such model indicate that the parameterization can be utilized a part of a larger atmospheric model to forecast the concentration of climatically active particles.

The article discusses a study which aims to forecast the number concentration of 50 nanometer (nm) atmospheric aerosol particles. The study has used a combination of in-situ gas phase and meteorological parameters. Results revealed that the parameters used in the study are effective in predicting the concentration of climatically active particles.