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A new particle size magnifier (PSM) for detection of nano-CN as small as ∼1 nm in mobility diameter was developed, calibrated and tested in atmospheric measurements. The working principle of a PSM is to mix turbulently cooled sample flow with heated clean air flow saturated by the working fluid. This provides a high saturation ratio for the working fluid and activates the seed particles and grows them by condensation of the working fluid. In order to reach high saturation ratios, and thus to activate nano-CN without homogeneous nucleation, diethylene glycol was chosen as the working fluid. The PSM was able to grow nano-CN to mean diameter of 90 nm, after which an ordinary condensation particle counter was used to count the grown particles (TSI 3010). The stability of the PSM was found to be good making it suitable for stand-alone field measurements. Calibration results show that the detection efficiency of the prototype PSM + TSI 3010 for charged tetra-alkyl ammonium salt molecules having mobility equivalent diameters of 1.05, 1.47, 1.78, and 2.57 nm are 25, 32, 46, and 70%, respectively. The commercial version of the PSM (Airmodus A09) performed even better in the smallest sizes the detection efficiency being 51% for 1.47 nm and 67% for 1.78 nm.

Abstract. We have analyzed one year (July 2006-July 2007 of measurement data from a relatively clean background site located in dry savannah in South Africa. The annualmedian trace gas concentrations were equal to 0.7 ppb for SO 2 , 1.4 ppb for NO x , 36 ppb for O 3 and 105 ppb for CO. The corresponding PM 1 , PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations were 9.0, 10.5 and 18.8 µg m −3 , and the annual median total particle number concentration in the size range 10-840 nm was 2340 cm −3 . During Easterly winds, influence of industrial sources approximately 150 km away from the measurement site was clearly visible, especially in SO 2 and NO x concentrations. Of gases, NO x and CO had a clear annual, and SO 2 , NO x and O 3 clear diurnal cycle.Atmospheric new-particle formation was observed to take place in more than 90% of the analyzed days. The days with no new particle formation were cloudy or rainy days. The formation rate of 10 nm particles varied in the range of 0.1-28 cm −3 s −1 (median 1.9 cm −3 s −1 ) and nucleation mode particle growth rates were in the range 3-21 nm h −1 (median 8.5 nm h −1 ). Due to high formation and growth rates, observed new particle formation gives a significant contribute to the number of cloud condensation nuclei budget, having a potential to affect the regional climate forcing patterns.

A dynamic model for simulating water flow in a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) tree was developed. The model is based on the cohesion theory and the assumption that fluctuating water tension driven by transpiration, together with the elasticity of wood tissue, causes variations in the diameter of a tree stem and branches. The change in xylem diameter can be linked to water tension in accordance with Hookeâ s law. The model was tested against field measurements of the diurnal xylem diameter change at different heights in a 37-year-old Scots pine at Hyytiälä, southern Finland (61 degrees 51' N, 24 degrees 17' E, 181 m a.s.l.). Shoot transpiration and soil water potential were input data for the model. The biomechanical and hydraulic properties of wood and fine root hydraulic conductance were estimated from simulated and measured stem diameter changes during the course of 1 day. The estimated parameters attained values similar to literature values. The ratios of estimated parameters to literature values ranged from 0.5 to 0.9. The model predictions (stem diameters at several heights) were in close agreement with the measurements for a period of 6 days. The time lag between changes in transpiration rate and in sap flow rate at the base of the tree was about half an hour. The analysis showed that 40% of the resistance between the soil and the top of the tree was located in the rhizosphere. Modeling the water tension gradient and consequent woody diameter changes offer a convenient means of studying the link between wood hydraulic conductivity and control of transpiration.

Abstract. Estimates of volatile organic compound (VOC)emissions from forests are based on the assumption that foliage has a steady emission potential over its lifetime, and that emissions are mainly modified by short-term variations in light and temperature. However, in many field studies this has been challenged, and high emissions and atmospheric concentrations have been measured during periods of low biological activity, such as in springtime. We conducted measurements during three years, using an online gas-exchange monitoring system to observe volatile organic emissions from a mature (1 year-old) and a growing Scots pine shoot. The emission rates of organic vapors from vegetative buds of Scots pine during the dehardening and rapid shoot growth stages were one to two orders of magnitude higher than those from mature foliage; this difference decreased and finally disappeared when the new shoot was maturing in late summer. On average, the springtime monoterpene emission rate of the bud was about 500 times higher than that of the mature needles; during the most intensive needle elongation period, the monoterpene emission rate of the growing needles was 3.5 higher than that of the mature needles, and in September the monoterpene emission rate of the same years' needles was even lower (50 %) than that of the previous years' needles. For other measured compounds (methanol, acetone and methylbutenol) the values were of the same order of magnitude, except before bud break in spring, when the emission rates of buds for those compounds were on average about 20-30 times higher than that of mature needles. During spring and early summer the buds and growing shoots are a strong source of several VOCs, and if they are not accounted for in emission modeling a significant proportion of the emissions -from a few percent to even half of the annual cumulative emissions -will remain concealed. The diurnal emission pattern of growing shoots differed from the diurnal cycle in temperature as well as from the diurnal emission pattern of mature shoots, which may be related to processes involved in shoot or needle elongation. Our findings imply that global estimations of monoterpene emission rates from forests are in need of revision, and that the physiological state of the plants should be taken into account when emissions of the reactive gases such as monoterpenes are estimated.

Abstract. Large conurbations are a significant source of the anthropogenic pollution and demographic differences between cities that result in a different pollution burden. The metropolitan area of São Paulo (MASP, population 20 million) accounts for one fifth of the Brazilian vehicular fleet. A feature of MASP is the amount of ethanol used by the vehicular fleet, known to exacerbate air quality. The study describes the diurnal behaviour of the submicron aerosol and relies on total particle number concentration, particle number size distribution, light scattering and light absorption measurements. Modelled planetary boundary layer (PBL) depth and air mass movement data were used to aid the interpretation. During morning rush-hour, stagnant air and a shallow PBL height favour the accumulation of aerosol pollution. During clearsky conditions, there was a wind shift towards the edge of the city indicating a heat island effect with implications on particulate pollution levels at the site. The median total particle number concentration for the submicron aerosol typically varied in the range 1.6 × 10 4 -3.2 × 10 4 cm −3 frequently exceeding 4 × 10 4 cm −3 during the day. During weekdays, nucleation-mode particles are responsible for most of the particles by numbers. The highest concentrations of total particle number concentrations and black carbon (BC) were observed on Fridays. Median diurnal values for light absorption and light scattering (at 637 nm wavelength) varied in the range 12-33 Mm −1 and 21-64 Mm −1 , respectively. The former one is equal to 1.8-5.0 µg m −3 of BC. The growth of the PBL, from the morning rush-hour until noon, is consistent with the diurnal cycle of BC mass concentrations. Weekday hourly median single-scattering albedo (ω 0 ) varied in the range 0.59-0.76. Overall, this suggests a top of atmosphere (TOA) warming effect. However, considering the low surface reflectance of urban areas, for the given range of ω 0 , the TOA radiative forcing can be either positive or negative for the sources within the MASP. On the average, weekend ω 0 values were 0.074 higher than during weekdays. During 11 % of the days, new particle formation (NPF) events occurred. The analysed events growth rates ranged between 9 and 25 nm h −1 . Sulphuric acid proxy concentrations calculated for the site were less than 5 % of the concentration needed to explain the observed growth. Thus, other vapours are likely contributors to the observed growth.

New particle formation in the Arctic atmosphere is an important source of aerosol particles. Understanding the processes of Arctic secondary aerosol formation is crucial due to their significant impact on cloud properties and therefore Arctic amplification. We observed the molecular formation of new particles from low‐volatility vapors at two Arctic sites with differing surroundings. In Svalbard, sulfuric acid (SA) and methane sulfonic acid (MSA) contribute to the formation of secondary aerosol and to some extent to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). This occurs via ion‐induced nucleation of SA and NH3 and subsequent growth by mainly SA and MSA condensation during springtime and highly oxygenated organic molecules during summertime. By contrast, in an ice‐covered region around Villum, we observed new particle formation driven by iodic acid but its concentration was insufficient to grow nucleated particles to CCN sizes. Our results provide new insight about sources and precursors of Arctic secondary aerosol particles.

Long‐term measurements of fluxes of sensible heat (H), latent heat (LE) and carbon dioxide (Fc) were made from December 2005 to August 2006 over an urban landscape in Helsinki, Finland using the direct micrometeorological eddy covariance technique. Three distinguished sectors of land‐use cover (vegetation, roads and buildings) allowed comparisons of fluxes over different urban surfaces. The normalized standard deviation of wind and scalars as a function of atmospheric stability were typical for rough surfaces, as were turbulence spectra and cospectra. Footprint analysis was performed by a boundary‐layer one and half‐order closure model allowing for discrimination of surface and canopy sinks/sources and complex topography. Fluxes were analysed as average diurnal courses over winter, spring and summer periods. H exceeded LE reaching 300 W m–2 over urban and road surfaces in the summer and it was close to 100 W m–2 in the winter. LE was highest in the summer over vegetation cover attaining 150 W m–2. The emission rate of CO2 was high over road sector [20 μmol (m2s)–1][Correction added after online publication 16 Oct 2007: 30 μmol changed to 20 μmol] while in the vegetation sector it remained below 5 μmol (m2s)–1 and at summertime reached even −10 μmol(m2 s)−1[Correction added after online publication 16 Oct 2007: wording of sentence altered]. Effluxes from soil measured by chambers were 1–3 μmol (m2s)−1. Fc correlated with traffic density and a background non‐vehicle flux was 1 μmol (m2s)−1[Correction added after online publication 16 Oct 2007: 2 μmol changed to 1 μmol].