Seasonal investigation of ultrafine particle composition in an eastern Amazonian rainforest

Abstract

Reports on the composition of ultrafine particles (<100 nm in diameter) in the Amazon are scarce, due in part to the fact that new particle formation has rarely been observed near ground level. Ultrafine particles near the surface have nevertheless been observed, leaving open questions regarding the sources and chemistry of their formation and growth, particularly as these vary across seasons. Here we present measurements of the composition of ultrafine particles collected in the Tapajós National Forest (2.857° S, 54.959° W) during three different seasonal periods: 10–30 September 2016 (SEP), 18 November–23 December 2016 (DEC), and 22 May–21 June 2017 (JUN). Size-selected (5–70 nm) particles were collected daily (22 h) using an offline sampler. Samples collected during the three periods were compiled and analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. Our findings suggest a sustained influence of isoprene organosulfate chemistry on ultrafine particles throughout the different periods. We present chemical evidence that biological spore fragmentation impacted ultrafine-particle composition during the late wet season (JUN), while chemical markers of biomass burning and secondary chemistry peaked during the dry season (SEP and DEC). Higher oxidation states and degrees of unsaturation were observed for organic compounds in the dry season (SEP and DEC), suggesting greater extents of aerosol aging. Finally, applying a volatility parameterization to the observed compounds suggests that organic sulfur species are likely key drivers of new-particle growth in the region due to their lower volatility compared with other species.