| Title: |
Unraveling Urban NOx Emission Sources in Polluted Arctic Wintertime Using NO2 Nitrogen Isotopes |
| Authors: |
Albertin, S.; Bekki, S.; Savarino, J.; Brett, N.; Law, K.S.; Cesler‐Maloney, M.; Flynn, J.H.; Guo, F.; Barret, B.; Caillon, N.; D’Anna, B.; Dieudonné, E.; Lamothe, A.; Richard, S.; Temime‐Roussel, B.; Alexander, B.; Arnold, S.R.; Decesari, S.; Fochesatto, G.J.; Mao, J.; Simpson, W. |
| Publisher Information: |
American Geophysical Union |
| Publication Year: |
2024 |
| Collection: |
White Rose Research Online (Universities of Leeds, Sheffield & York) |
| Description: |
Nitrogen (N) isotopic fractionation during nitrogen oxides (NOx) cycling and conversion into atmospheric nitrate alters the original N isotopic composition (δ15N) of NOx emissions. Limited quantification of these isotopic effects in urban settings hampers the δ15N-based identification and apportionment of NOx sources. δ15N of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) measured during winter in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska, displayed a large temporal variability, from −10.2 to 24.1‰. δ15N(NO2) records are found to be driven by equilibrium isotopic fractionation, at a rate in very close agreement with theoretical predictions. This result confirms that N isotopic partitioning between NO and NO2 can be accurately predicted over a wide range of conditions. This represents an important step for inferring NOx emission sources from isotopic composition measurement of reactive nitrogen species. After correcting our δ15N(NO2) measurements for N fractionation effects, a δ15N-based source apportionment analysis identifies vehicle and space heating oil emissions as the dominant sources of breathing-level NOx at this urban site. Despite their large NOx emissions, coal-fired power plants with elevated chimney stacks (>26 m) appear to make a small contribution to surface NOx levels in downtown Fairbanks (likely less than 18% on average). The combined uncertainties of the δ15N of NOx from heating oil combustion and of the influence of low temperatures on the δ15N of NOx emitted by vehicle exhaust prevent a more detailed partitioning of surface NOx sources in Fairbanks. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
text |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
2169-897X |
| Relation: |
https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/228066/1/JGR%20Atmospheres%20-%202024%20-%20Albertin%20-%20Unraveling%20Urban%20NOx%20Emission%20Sources%20in%20Polluted%20Arctic%20Wintertime%20Using%20NO2%20Nitrogen.pdf; Albertin, S., Bekki, S., Savarino, J. et al. (18 more authors) (2024) Unraveling Urban NOx Emission Sources in Polluted Arctic Wintertime Using NO2 Nitrogen Isotopes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 129 (20). e2024JD041842. ISSN: 2169-897X |
| Availability: |
https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/228066/ |
| Rights: |
cc_by_nc_4 |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.A2BB997E |
| Database: |
BASE |