Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4165
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4165
16 Jan 2025
 | 16 Jan 2025

On the presence of high nitrite (NO2-) in coarse particles at Mt. Qomolangma

Zhongyi Zhang, Chunxiang Ye, Yichao Wu, Tao Zhou, Pengfei Chen, Shichang Kang, Chong Zhang, Zhuang Jiang, and Lei Geng

Abstract. Atmospheric reactive nitrogen cycling is crucial for maintaining the atmospheric oxidation capacity of background atmosphere on the Tibetan Plateau , with nitrous acid (HONO) and particulate nitrite (NO2-) as important intermediates. During an eleven-day field campaign at the Base Camp of Mt. Qomolangma in spring of 2022, we observed significant enrichment of NO2- in total suspended particulate (TSP) with a mean concentration of 375 ± 386 ng m-3, while NO2- was absent in fine particles (PM2.5). The comparison revealed that NO2- predominately exists in coarse particles. Local surface soil at the sampling site also exhibited high levels of NO2-, with δ15N value similar to NO2- in TSP. This similarity suggests that wind-blown soil is probably the primary source of NO2- in TSP, accounting for the background levels. While concentration changes of water-soluble inorganic ions in TSP and PM2.5 in response to shifts in air mass back-trajectories imply that atmospheric pollutants transported from South Asia may further elevate the NO2-, the specific mechanisms of long-range transport resulting in NO2- accumulation in TSP rather than PM2.5 remain unknown and need to be investigated. Our results reveal an overlooked source of atmospheric NO2-, i.e., soil NO2-, and highlight in remote regions such as Tibet where other sources are limited, wind-blown soil may serve as an important source of atmospheric NO2-. Once lofted into the atmosphere, NO2- may readily participate in atmospheric reactive nitrogen cycling through gas-particle partitioning or photolysis, leading to the production of HONO, OH and NO and thereby influencing oxidation chemistry.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
Share

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

17 Sep 2025
On the presence of high nitrite (NO2) in coarse particles at Mt. Qomolangma
Zhongyi Zhang, Chunxiang Ye, Yichao Wu, Tao Zhou, Pengfei Chen, Shichang Kang, Chong Zhang, Zhuang Jiang, and Lei Geng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 10625–10641, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10625-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10625-2025, 2025
Short summary
Zhongyi Zhang, Chunxiang Ye, Yichao Wu, Tao Zhou, Pengfei Chen, Shichang Kang, Chong Zhang, Zhuang Jiang, and Lei Geng

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-4165', Anonymous Referee #1, 22 Feb 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Zhongyi Zhang, 05 Jun 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-4165', Anonymous Referee #2, 28 Apr 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Zhongyi Zhang, 05 Jun 2025
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-4165', Anonymous Referee #3, 05 May 2025
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Zhongyi Zhang, 05 Jun 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-4165', Anonymous Referee #1, 22 Feb 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Zhongyi Zhang, 05 Jun 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-4165', Anonymous Referee #2, 28 Apr 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Zhongyi Zhang, 05 Jun 2025
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-4165', Anonymous Referee #3, 05 May 2025
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Zhongyi Zhang, 05 Jun 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Zhongyi Zhang on behalf of the Authors (06 Jun 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (08 Jun 2025) by Armin Sorooshian
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (09 Jun 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (26 Jul 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (28 Jul 2025)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (28 Jul 2025) by Armin Sorooshian
AR by Zhongyi Zhang on behalf of the Authors (30 Jul 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (31 Jul 2025) by Armin Sorooshian
AR by Zhongyi Zhang on behalf of the Authors (01 Aug 2025)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

17 Sep 2025
On the presence of high nitrite (NO2) in coarse particles at Mt. Qomolangma
Zhongyi Zhang, Chunxiang Ye, Yichao Wu, Tao Zhou, Pengfei Chen, Shichang Kang, Chong Zhang, Zhuang Jiang, and Lei Geng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 10625–10641, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10625-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10625-2025, 2025
Short summary
Zhongyi Zhang, Chunxiang Ye, Yichao Wu, Tao Zhou, Pengfei Chen, Shichang Kang, Chong Zhang, Zhuang Jiang, and Lei Geng
Zhongyi Zhang, Chunxiang Ye, Yichao Wu, Tao Zhou, Pengfei Chen, Shichang Kang, Chong Zhang, Zhuang Jiang, and Lei Geng

Viewed

Total article views: 774 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
682 67 25 774 39 18 43
  • HTML: 682
  • PDF: 67
  • XML: 25
  • Total: 774
  • Supplement: 39
  • BibTeX: 18
  • EndNote: 43
Views and downloads (calculated since 16 Jan 2025)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 16 Jan 2025)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 783 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 783 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 17 Sep 2025
Download

The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
This study reveals unexpectedly high levels of particulate nitrite at the Base Camp of Mt. Qomolangma, which overwhelmingly exists in coarse mode, and demonstrates that lofted surface soil contributes to the high levels of nitrite. Once lofted into atmosphere, the soil-derived nitrite is likely to participate in atmospheric reactive nitrogen cycling through gas-particle partitioning or photolysis, leading to the production of HONO, OH and NO and thereby influencing oxidation chemistry.
Share