Atmospheric Measurement Techniques www.atmos-meas-tech.net 1867-1381 1867-8548 2 1 2009 10.5194/amt-2-231-2009 http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/2/231/2009/ http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/2/231/2009/amt-2-231-2009.html http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/2/231/2009/amt-2-231-2009.pdf 231 242 2009-06-16 An experimental technique for the direct measurement of N₂O₅ reactivity on ambient particles T. H. Bertram J. A. Thornton thornton@atmos.washington.edu T. P. Riedel Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA An experimental approach for the direct measurement of trace gas reactivity on ambient aerosol particles has been developed. The method utilizes a newly designed entrained aerosol flow reactor coupled to a custom-built chemical ionization mass spectrometer. The experimental method is described via application to the measurement of the N₂O₅ reaction probability, γ (N₂O₅). Laboratory investigations on well characterized aerosol particles show that measurements of γ (N₂O₅) observed with this technique are in agreement with previous observations, using conventional flow tube methods, to within ±20% at atmospherically relevant particle surface area concentrations (0–1000 μm² cm^−3). Uncertainty in the measured γ (N₂O₅) is discussed in the context of fluctuations in potential ambient biases (e.g., temperature, relative humidity and trace gas loadings). Under ambient operating conditions we estimate a single-point uncertainty in γ (N₂O₅) that ranges between ± (1.3×10^-2 + 0.2×γ (N₂O₅)), and ± (1.3×10^-3 + 0.2×γ (N₂O₅)) for particle surface area concentrations of 100 to 1000 μm² cm^−3, respectively. Examples from both laboratory investigations and field observations are included alongside discussion of future applications for the reactivity measurement and optimal deployment locations and conditions. Abbatt, J. P. D. and Waschewsky, G. C. 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