Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-229
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-229
17 Mar 2025
 | 17 Mar 2025

Influencing Factors of Gas-Particle Distribution of Oxygenated Organic Molecules in Urban Atmosphere and its Deviation from Equilibrium Partitioning

Xinyu Wang, Nan Chen, Bo Zhu, and Huan Yu

Abstract. Gas-to-particle partitioning governs the fate of Oxygenated Organic Molecules (OOMs) and the formation of organic aerosols. We employed a FIGAERO-CIMS to measure gas-particle distribution of OOMs in a winter campaign in urban atmosphere. The observed gas to particle (G/P) ratios show a narrower range than the equilibrium G/P ratios predicted from saturation mass concentration C* and organic aerosol content. The difference between observed and equilibrium G/P ratios could be up to 10 orders of magnitude, depending on C* parameterization selection. Our random forest models identified relative humidity (RH), aerosol liquid water content (LWC), temperature and ozone as four influential factors driving the deviations of partitioning from equilibrium state. Random forest models with satisfactory performance were developed to predict the observed G/P ratios. Intrinsic molecule features far outweigh meteorological and chemical composition features in the model's predictions. For a given OOM species, particle chemical composition features including pH, RH, LWC, organic carbon, potassium and sulfate dominate over meteorological and gaseous chemical composition features in predicting the G/P ratios. We identified positive or negative effects, as well as the sensitive ranges, of these influential features using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis and curve fitting with a generalized additive model (GAM). Our models found that temperature does not emerge as a significant factor influencing the observed G/P ratios, suggesting that other factors, most likely associated with particle composition, inhibit the gas/particle partitioning of OOMs in response to temperature change.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

01 Sep 2025
Influencing factors of the gas–particle distribution of oxygenated organic molecules in the urban atmosphere and deviation from equilibrium partitioning: a random forest model study
Xinyu Wang, Nan Chen, Bo Zhu, and Huan Yu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 9601–9615, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9601-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9601-2025, 2025
Short summary
Xinyu Wang, Nan Chen, Bo Zhu, and Huan Yu

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-229', Anonymous Referee #3, 01 Apr 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Huan Yu, 19 May 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-229', Anonymous Referee #1, 03 Apr 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Huan Yu, 19 May 2025
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-229', Anonymous Referee #4, 03 Apr 2025
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Huan Yu, 19 May 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-229', Anonymous Referee #3, 01 Apr 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Huan Yu, 19 May 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-229', Anonymous Referee #1, 03 Apr 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Huan Yu, 19 May 2025
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-229', Anonymous Referee #4, 03 Apr 2025
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Huan Yu, 19 May 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Huan Yu on behalf of the Authors (19 May 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (29 May 2025) by John Liggio
RR by Anonymous Referee #4 (17 Jun 2025)
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (18 Jun 2025) by John Liggio
AR by Huan Yu on behalf of the Authors (23 Jun 2025)  Author's response   Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

01 Sep 2025
Influencing factors of the gas–particle distribution of oxygenated organic molecules in the urban atmosphere and deviation from equilibrium partitioning: a random forest model study
Xinyu Wang, Nan Chen, Bo Zhu, and Huan Yu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 9601–9615, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9601-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9601-2025, 2025
Short summary
Xinyu Wang, Nan Chen, Bo Zhu, and Huan Yu
Xinyu Wang, Nan Chen, Bo Zhu, and Huan Yu

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Short summary
Gas-to-particle partitioning governs the fate of organic molecules and the formation of organic aerosols in the atmosphere. Based on field measurement data, we built machine learning models to predict gas-to-particle partitioning. We also unveiled previously unrecognized interactions that lead to the deviations of partitioning from equilibrium state under real atmospheric conditions. Our study provided valuable insights for future research in atmospheric chemistry.
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