Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4165
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4165
16 Jan 2025
 | 16 Jan 2025
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).

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.

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

Status: open (until 02 Mar 2025)

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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

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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.
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