Source and Chemistry of Hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS) in Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks, Alaska, is a subarctic city with fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations that exceed air quality regulations in winter due to weak dispersion caused by strong atmospheric inversions, local emissions, and the unique chemistry occurring under the cold and dark conditions. Here, we report on ob...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2022-06, Vol.56 (12), p.7657-7667
Main Authors: Campbell, James R., Battaglia, Michael, Dingilian, Kayane, Cesler-Maloney, Meeta, St Clair, Jason M., Hanisco, Thomas F., Robinson, Ellis, DeCarlo, Peter, Simpson, William, Nenes, Athanasios, Weber, Rodney J., Mao, Jingqiu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air pollution
Air quality
Air sampling
Anthropogenic Impacts on the Atmosphere
Bisulfite
Emissions
Inversions
Low temperature
Outdoor air quality
Particulate matter
Precursors
Sulfite
Sulfur
Sulfur dioxide
Temperature inversions
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Summary:Fairbanks, Alaska, is a subarctic city with fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations that exceed air quality regulations in winter due to weak dispersion caused by strong atmospheric inversions, local emissions, and the unique chemistry occurring under the cold and dark conditions. Here, we report on observations from the winters of 2020 and 2021, motivated by our pilot study that showed exceptionally high concentrations of fine particle hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS) or related sulfur­(IV) species (e.g., sulfite and bisulfite). We deployed online particle-into-liquid sampler–ion chromatography (PILS-IC) in conjunction with a suite of instruments to determine HMS precursors (HCHO, SO2) and aerosol composition in general, with the goal to characterize the sources and sinks of HMS in wintertime Fairbanks. PM2.5 HMS comprised a significant fraction of PM2.5 sulfur (26–41%) and overall PM2.5 mass concentration of 2.8–6.8% during pollution episodes, substantially higher than what has been observed in other regions, likely due to the exceptionally low temperatures. HMS peaked in January, with lower concentrations in December and February, resulting from changes in precursors and meteorological conditions. Strong correlations with inorganic sulfate and organic mass during pollution events suggest that HMS is linked to processes responsible for poor air quality episodes. These findings demonstrate unique aspects of air pollution formation in cold and humid atmospheres.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/acs.est.2c00410