Over the past decade, it has become clear that aqueous chemical processes occurring in cloud droplets and wet atmospheric particles are an important source of organic atmospheric particulate matter. Reactions of water-soluble volatile (or semivolatile) organic gases (VOCs or SVOCs) in these aqueous media lead to the formation of highly oxidized organic particulate matter (secondary organic aerosol; SOA) and key tracer species, such as organosulfates. These processes are often driven by a combination of anthropogenic and biogenic emissions, and therefore their accurate representation in models is important for effective air quality management. Despite considerable progress, mechanistic understanding of some key aqueous processes is still lacking, and these pathways are incompletely represented in 3D atmospheric chemistry and air quality models. In this article, the concepts, historical context, and current state of the science of aqueous pathways of SOA formation are discussed.

We have examined aqueous-phase secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and organosulfate (OS) formation in atmospheric aerosols using a photochemical box model with coupled gas-phase chemistry and detailed aqueous aerosol chemistry. SOA formation in deliquesced ammonium sulfate aerosol is highest under low-NO(x) conditions, with acidic aerosol (pH = 1) and low ambient relative humidity (40%). Under these conditions, with an initial sulfate loading of 4.0 μg m(-3), 0.9 μg m(-3) SOA is predicted after 12 h. Low-NO(x) aqueous-aerosol SOA (aaSOA) and OS formation is dominated by isoprene-derived epoxydiol (IEPOX) pathways; 69% or more of aaSOA is composed of IEPOX, 2-methyltetrol, and 2-methyltetrol sulfate ester. 2-Methyltetrol sulfate ester comprises >99% of OS mass (66 ng m(-3) at 40% RH and pH 1). In urban (high-NO(x)) environments, aaSOA is primarily formed via reversible glyoxal uptake, with 0.12 μg m(-3) formed after 12 h at 80% RH, with 20 μg m(-3) initial sulfate. OS formation under all conditions studied is maximum at low pH and lower relative humidities (<60% RH), i.e., when the aerosol is more concentrated. Therefore, OS species are expected to be good tracer compounds for aqueous aerosol-phase chemistry (vs cloudwater processing).

We have studied the oxidation of submicron aqueous aerosols consisting of internal mixtures of sodium oleate (oleic acid proxy), sodium dodecyl sulfate, and inorganic salts by O 3 , NO 3 /N 2 O 5 , and OH. Experiments were performed using an aerosol flow tube and a continuous flow photochemical reaction chamber coupled to a chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS). The CIMS was fitted with a heated inlet for volatilization and detection of organics in the particle phase simultaneously with the gas phase. A differential mobility analyzer/condensation particle counter was used for determining aerosol size distributions. The oxidation of oleate by O 3 follows Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics, with γ O 3 ≈ 10 -5 calculated from the observed loss rate of oleate in the particle phase. The best fit Langmuir-Hinshelwood parameters are k max I ) 0.05 ( 0.01 s -1 and K O 3 ) 4((3) × 10 -14 cm 3 molec -1 . These parameters showed no dependence on the ionic composition of the aerosols or on the presence of alkyl surfactants. Several ozone oxidation products were observed to be particle-bound at ambient temperature, including nonanoic acid. We observed efficient processing of oleate by OH (0.1 e γ OH e 1), and we suggest an upper bound of γ Ν 3 < 10 -3 . We conclude that for the aerosol compositions studied, oxidation occurs near the gas-aerosol interface and that the 1 e-fold lifetime of unsaturated organics at the aerosol surface is ∼10 min due to O 3 oxidation under atmospheric conditions. In the context of a Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, different underlying aerosol compositions may extend the lifetime of oleic acid at the surface by reducing K O 3 .

One of the least understood aspects in atmospheric chemistry is how urban emissions influence the formation of natural organic aerosols, which affect Earth’s energy budget. The Amazon rainforest, during its wet season, is one of the few remaining places on Earth where atmospheric chemistry transitions between preindustrial and urban-influenced conditions. Here, we integrate insights from several laboratory measurements and simulate the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in the Amazon using a high-resolution chemical transport model. Simulations show that emissions of nitrogen-oxides from Manaus, a city of ~2 million people, greatly enhance production of biogenic SOA by 60–200% on average with peak enhancements of 400%, through the increased oxidation of gas-phase organic carbon emitted by the forests. Simulated enhancements agree with aircraft measurements, and are much larger than those reported over other locations. The implication is that increasing anthropogenic emissions in the future might substantially enhance biogenic SOA in pristine locations like the Amazon.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abstract.&lt;/strong&gt; Acidity, defined as pH, is a central component of aqueous chemistry. In the atmosphere, the acidity of condensed phases (aerosol particles, cloud water, and fog droplets) governs the phase partitioning of semi-volatile gases such as HNO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;, NH&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;, and HCl, as well as chemical reaction rates. It has implications for the atmospheric lifetime of pollutants, deposition, and human health. Despite its fundamental role in atmospheric processes, only recently has this field seen a growth in the number of studies on particle acidity. Even with this growth, many fine particle pH estimates must be based on thermodynamic model calculations since no operational techniques exist for direct measurements. Current information indicates acidic fine particles are ubiquitous, but observationally-constrained pH estimates are limited in spatial and temporal coverage. Clouds and fogs are also generally acidic, but to a lesser degree than particles, and have a range of pH that is quite sensitive to anthropogenic emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides, as well as ambient ammonia. Historical measurements indicate that cloud and fog droplet pH has changed in recent decades in response to controls on anthropogenic emissions, while the limited trend data for aerosol particles indicates acidity may be relatively constant due to the semi-volatile nature of the key acids and bases and buffering in particles. This paper reviews and synthesizes the current state of knowledge on the acidity of atmospheric condensed phases, specifically particles and cloud droplets. It includes recommendations for estimating acidity and pH, standard nomenclature, a synthesis of current pH estimates based on observations, and new model calculations on the local and global scale.&lt;/p&gt;