Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-73
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-73
23 May 2023
 | 23 May 2023
Status: a revised version of this preprint was accepted for the journal BG and is expected to appear here in due course.

Origin of secondary fatty alcohols in atmospheric aerosols in a cool-temperate forest based on their mass size distributions

Yuhao Cui, Eri Tachibana, Kimitaka Kawamura, and Yuzo Miyazaki

Abstract. Fatty alcohols (FAs) are major components of surface lipids in plant leaves and serve as surface-active organic aerosols (OAs), which can act as primary biological aerosol particles (PBAPs). To elucidate the origin and formation of secondary fatty alcohols (SFAs) in atmospheric aerosols, their mass size distribution in aerosol samples obtained from a deciduous forest canopy was measured in spring, summer, and autumn. The SFAs showed the highest concentration in spring (growing season), with n-nonacosan-10-ol being the most abundant. In spring and summer, the size peak of n-nonacosan-10-ol was in particle size range >10.0 μm, whereas it was in the 1.9–3.0 μm range in autumn. The size distribution of n-nonacosan-10-ol did not show any significant correlation with that of the known biogenic tracers of pollen, soil, and fungal spores in spring and summer. The overall results, together with SFAs measured in plant leaves, as well as the literature, suggest that SFAs originate mostly from plant waxes, and that leaf senescence status is likely an important factor controlling the size distribution of SFAs. This study provides new insights into the possible sources of PBAPs and their effects on the ice nucleation activity of aerosols based on seasonal changes in particle size.

Yuhao Cui et al.

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on bg-2023-73', Anonymous Referee #1, 05 Jun 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on bg-2023-73', Anonymous Referee #2, 24 Aug 2023

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on bg-2023-73', Anonymous Referee #1, 05 Jun 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on bg-2023-73', Anonymous Referee #2, 24 Aug 2023

Yuhao Cui et al.

Yuhao Cui et al.

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Short summary
Fatty alcohols (FAs) are major components of surface lipids in plant leaves and serve as surface-active aerosols. Our study on the aerosol size distributions in a forest suggested that secondary FAs (SFAs) originated from plant waxes, and that leaf senescence status is likely an important factor controlling the size distribution of SFAs. This study provides new insights into the sources of primary biological aerosol particles (PBAPs) and their effects on the aerosol ice nucleation activity.
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