Nitrous acid (HONO) source and sink processes in a disturbed forest ecosystem - interactions of heterogeneous chemistry and turbulent transport

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Within this project, the complex interplay of source and sink processes of nitrous acid (HONO) will be studied in a disturbed forest ecosystem. In previous field experiments, a tight correlation of the atmospheric mixing ratios of HONO and NO2, the most probable precursor, was not observed, while the interaction of heterogeneous chemistry (with a strong dependence on humidity conditions) and turbulent transport was found to play a significant role. The proposed measurements extend the previous field measurements of HONO within the forest to a second contrasting site in a forest clear cut. New near-surface profile measurements of HONO, NO, NO2 and O3 within the lowest two meters above the ground both in the trunk space and the clear cut will contribute to an advanced assessment of the temporal evolution and spatial distribution of relevant HONO sources and sinks. The proposed research tasks are designed to fill the scientific gaps that became evident from analyzing HONO field data from our forest ecosystem research site. In particular, we aim at untangling interactions of heterogeneous chemistry (influenced by radiation and humidity conditions) and turbulent transport under different atmospheric coupling regimes. This project will also contribute to the fundamental understanding of turbulent transport in a disturbed forest ecosystem, and provide basic observational data to evaluate and enhance reactive trace gas modeling on the canopy scale.