Composition and Chemistry

Observations of inorganic bromine (HOBr, BrO, and Br2) speciation at Barrow, Alaska, in spring 2009

  1. J. Liao1,
  2. L. G. Huey1,
  3. D. J. Tanner1,
  4. F. M. Flocke2,
  5. J. J. Orlando2,
  6. J. A. Neuman3,4,
  7. J. B. Nowak3,4,
  8. A. J. Weinheimer2,
  9. S. R. Hall2,
  10. J. N. Smith2,
  11. A. Fried5,
  12. R. M. Staebler6,
  13. Y. Wang1,
  14. J.-H. Koo1,
  15. C. A. Cantrell2,
  16. P. Weibring5,
  17. J. Walega5,
  18. D. J. Knapp2,
  19. P. B. Shepson7,
  20. C. R. Stephens7

Article first published online: 30 MAR 2012

DOI: 10.1029/2011JD016641

Issue

Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres (1984–2012)

Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres (1984–2012)

Additional Information

How to Cite

Liao, J., et al. (2012), Observations of inorganic bromine (HOBr, BrO, and Br2) speciation at Barrow, Alaska, in spring 2009, J. Geophys. Res., 117, D00R16, doi:10.1029/2011JD016641.

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

  2. 2

    Atmospheric Chemistry Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA

  3. 3

    Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA

  4. 4

    Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA, Boulder, Colorado, USA

  5. 5

    Earth Observing Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA

  6. 6

    Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  7. 7

    Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 30 MAR 2012
  2. Article first published online: 30 MAR 2012
  3. Manuscript Revised: 6 FEB 2012
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 6 FEB 2012
  5. Manuscript Received: 29 JUL 2011

Funded by

  • NSF. Grant Number: ATM-0807702

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article with Supporting Information (HTML) Get PDF (2642K)

Keywords:

  • HOBr;
  • bromine chemistry;
  • bromine oxide;
  • halogens;
  • mercury depletion;
  • ozone depletion

[1] Inorganic bromine plays a critical role in ozone and mercury depletions events (ODEs and MDEs) in the Arctic marine boundary layer. Direct observations of bromine species other than bromine oxide (BrO) during ODEs are very limited. Here we report the first direct measurements of hypobromous acid (HOBr) as well as observations of BrO and molecular bromine (Br2) by chemical ionization mass spectrometry at Barrow, Alaska in spring 2009 during the Ocean-Atmospheric-Sea Ice-Snowpack (OASIS) campaign. Diurnal profiles of HOBr with maximum concentrations near local noon and no significant concentrations at night were observed. The measured average daytime HOBr mixing ratio was 10 pptv with a maximum value of 26 pptv. The observed HOBr was reasonably well correlated (R2 = 0.57) with predictions from a simple steady state photochemical model constrained to observed BrO and HO2 at wind speeds <6 m s−1. However, predicted HOBr levels were considerably higher than observations at higher wind speeds. This may be due to enhanced heterogeneous loss of HOBr on blowing snow coincident with higher wind speeds. BrO levels were also found to be higher at elevated wind speeds. Br2 was observed in significant mixing ratios (maximum = 46 pptv; average = 13 pptv) at night and was strongly anti-correlated with ozone. The diurnal speciation of observed gas phase inorganic bromine species can be predicted by a time-dependent box model that includes efficient heterogeneous recycling of HOBr, hydrogen bromide (HBr), and bromine nitrate (BrONO2) back to more reactive forms of bromine.

View Full Article with Supporting Information (HTML) Get PDF (2642K)