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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5955
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5955
27 Dec 2025
 | 27 Dec 2025

Secondary formation dominated low molecular weight amines origins in aerosols over the marginal seas of China

Xiao-Ying Yang, Fang Cao, Chang-Liu Wu, Yu-Xian Zhang, Wen-Huai Song, Yu-Chi Lin, and Yan-Lin Zhang

Abstract. Atmospheric low molecular weight amines play important roles in new particle formation, aerosol properties, and climate. However, the compositions, sources, and secondary formation mechanisms of amines in offshore aerosols remain unclear. Here, an integrated observation of methylamine (MA), ethylamine (EA), dimethylamine (DMA), iso-propanamine (IPA), propanamine (PA), "trimethylamine + diethylamine" (TMDEA), and > 100 other chemical components in total suspended particles was conducted during a spring 2018 research cruise across the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, China. Concentrations of total amines exhibited a north-to-south decrease from the Bohai Sea to the South Yellow Sea, corresponding to the declined influence of terrestrial air masses. Source analyses were performed by evaluating the linear relationships between individual amines and specific organic molecular tracers representing primary biogenic sources, higher plant waxes, marine/microbial sources, biogenic secondary organic aerosols (BSOA), biomass burning, and fossil fuel combustion. MA, EA, and DMA were largely influenced by terrestrial biogenic and anthropogenic sources, with the majority (74.0%, 52.6%, and 65.7%, respectively) formed through nitrate-associated secondary formation pathways, interacting with BSOA formation. PA was mainly derived from combustion-related sources, along with terrestrial and marine biogenic contributions. In contrast, the predominate amine, TMDEA, was mostly generated through sulfate-associated secondary formation pathways (61.8%) and contributed by marine emissions, leading to the north-to-south increase in its relative contribution to aerosol amines. The findings highlight distinct potential sources and formation mechanisms for different amines in offshore aerosols, and underscore the importance of multiphase chemistry of amines under varying ambient conditions.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

22 May 2026
Secondary formation dominated low molecular weight amines origins in aerosols over the marginal seas of China
Xiao-Ying Yang, Fang Cao, Chang-Liu Wu, Yu-Xian Zhang, Wen-Huai Song, Yu-Chi Lin, and Yan-Lin Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 7031–7046, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-7031-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-7031-2026, 2026
Short summary
Xiao-Ying Yang, Fang Cao, Chang-Liu Wu, Yu-Xian Zhang, Wen-Huai Song, Yu-Chi Lin, and Yan-Lin Zhang

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-5955', Anonymous Referee #1, 03 Feb 2026
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Xiao-Ying Yang, 02 Apr 2026
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-5955', Anonymous Referee #2, 09 Feb 2026
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Xiao-Ying Yang, 02 Apr 2026

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-5955', Anonymous Referee #1, 03 Feb 2026
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Xiao-Ying Yang, 02 Apr 2026
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-5955', Anonymous Referee #2, 09 Feb 2026
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Xiao-Ying Yang, 02 Apr 2026

Peer review completion

AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
AR by Xiao-Ying Yang on behalf of the Authors (02 Apr 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (17 Apr 2026) by Joachim Curtius
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (21 Apr 2026)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (24 Apr 2026)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (25 Apr 2026) by Joachim Curtius
AR by Xiao-Ying Yang on behalf of the Authors (30 Apr 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (01 May 2026) by Joachim Curtius
AR by Xiao-Ying Yang on behalf of the Authors (09 May 2026)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

22 May 2026
Secondary formation dominated low molecular weight amines origins in aerosols over the marginal seas of China
Xiao-Ying Yang, Fang Cao, Chang-Liu Wu, Yu-Xian Zhang, Wen-Huai Song, Yu-Chi Lin, and Yan-Lin Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 7031–7046, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-7031-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-7031-2026, 2026
Short summary
Xiao-Ying Yang, Fang Cao, Chang-Liu Wu, Yu-Xian Zhang, Wen-Huai Song, Yu-Chi Lin, and Yan-Lin Zhang
Xiao-Ying Yang, Fang Cao, Chang-Liu Wu, Yu-Xian Zhang, Wen-Huai Song, Yu-Chi Lin, and Yan-Lin Zhang

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Short summary
This study provides a systematic analysis of the spatial variations, potential sources, and secondary formation mechanisms of low molecular weight amines in aerosols over the marginal seas of China. Amines in offshore aerosols were largely influenced by terrestrial emissions, substantially contributed by marine sources, and predominated by secondary formation, with two distinct major pathways (nitrate or sulfate-associated) identified for different amine species.
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