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Measurements of Reactive Nitrogen Species from R/V Knorr during ICEALOT

E. Williams*,**, B. Lerner*,**, J. Roberts*, J. Gilman*,**, W. Kuster*, J. deGouw*,**

*CIRES, **NOAA/ESRL/CSD

The International Chemistry Experiment in the Arctic Lower Troposphere (ICEALOT) was an International Polar Year research activity to explore the sources, transport, and chemical processing of aerosol and gas phase species in the Arctic marine boundary layer. Measurements were conducted aboard the research vessel Knorr north of 60 N from March 31 to April 24, 2008. The cruise track included portions of the Norwegian, Barents, and Greenland Seas between 20 W and 30 E. The highest latitude achieved was 80 N, at the sea ice edge north of Svalbard. Measurements of individual reactive nitrogen species included NO, NO2, PAN, PPN, alkyl nitrates (C1-C3), and NOy (but not HNO3). With the exception of ports and near-shore source regions (Kola Peninsula), NOy ranged from 0.2 to 1.0 ppbv with a mean value of approximately 0.5 ppbv. The dominant individually measured NOy component was PAN which ranged from 0.05 to 0.35 ppbv with a mean value of approximately 0.24 ppbv. Mixing ratios of PPN ranged from 0.004 to 0.084 ppbv with a mean value of 0.044 ppbv. Mixing ratios of NOx were generally similar to PPN, with some periods when NOx was lower and some periods when PPN was lower. Mixing ratios of alkyl nitrates were typically quite low with 2-propyl nitrate levels higher than ethyl nitrate, which was higher than methyl nitrate. However, there were some episodes when methyl nitrate was present at levels higher than the others. Because HNO3 was not measured individually, we cannot conclude that the reactive nitrogen species budget was balanced. However, if the apparent deficit between the measured NOy and the sum of the individual NOy species is attributed to HNO3, then that compound is present in the Arctic atmosphere at levels substantially higher than previously measured.