Source and Sink of Ammonia in the Marine Boundary Layer

Author

Liangzhong Zhuang, University of Rhode Island

Date of Award

1993

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Oceanography

Department

Oceanography

First Advisor

Barry Huebert

Abstract

During the June, 1992 ASTEX/MAGE experiment conducted in the area of the Azores and Madeira Islands, we made a series of chemical measurements from aircraft, ship and island.

The mean NH₄⁺/nss SO₄ = molar ratios in marine airmasses and continental polluted airmasses were 0.87 ± 0.85 and 1.3 ± 0.43 respectively, which indicate that sulfur-containing aerosols were only partially neutralized by gaseous ammonia. Similar average diurnal variations of MS and ammonium were observed in marine airmasses. The size distributions show that most NH₄⁺ and nss SO₄ = were contained in a submicron mode; the Na⁺, Cl^- and NO₃^-, by contrast, were in a supermicron mode; MSA showed bimodal behavior. The average dry deposition fluxes for nss SO₄ =, MSA, NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- in this experiment were 1.49, 0.09, 0.18 and 3.25 μmol m^-2day^-1 respectively. The flux of ammonia from the ocean surface was estimated during a Lagrangian experiment at 22-40 ± 40 μmol m^-2day^-1. This implies that the ammonia cycling may be a significant way to move marine ammonia from place to place, but is not likely to be a net new foxed N input.

Recommended Citation

Zhuang, Liangzhong, "Source and Sink of Ammonia in the Marine Boundary Layer" (1993). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2112.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2112