The effect of heterogeneous reactions on model performance for nitrous acid

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that emissions, heterogeneous reactions, and surface photolysis of adsorbed nitric acid may produce additional nitrous acid in the atmosphere. The effects of these sources on nitrous acid formation are evaluated using the Community Multiscale Air Quality modeling system. Predicted nitrous acid with and without these sources are compared with observed data from northeast Philadelphia. The incorporation of these sources greatly improves the model performance for nitrous acid. It also increases the average hydroxyl radical and ozone by 10% and 1.7 ppbv, respectively.