Observations of Processed Asian Pollution with a High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) from the C-130 Aircraft During the INTEX-B Field Campaign

Measurements of submicron, non-refractory aerosol mass were made from the NCAR/NSF C-130 aircraft using a High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) during the spring 2006 INTEX-B field campaign based in Seattle. We intercepted numerous Asian pollution layers, some after rapid transport across the Pacific and others after slower transport which had reduced aerosol concentrations and were depleted of short-lived tracers. The aerosol in Asian pollution layers intercepted over the Eastern Pacific Ocean was shown to have a predominance of sulfate over organic material, the latter being highly oxidized. Measurements and back trajectory calculations are consistent with the following sequence: (a) relatively more rapid conversion of organic precursors to organic aerosol compared to conversion of SO2 to sulfate just downwind of Asian urban centers and pollution sources, (b) uplift and transport of air masses resulting in washout of most aerosol material leaving relatively more SO2 available, and (c) subsequent SO2 to sulfate conversion as air masses are transported across the Pacific. This is consistent with Brock et al., JGR, 2004. Two case studies will be presented to describe this evolution of aerosol chemical composition during transport from Asia. Overall correlations of several tracers will be shown for comparing MOZART and GEOS-Chem model outputs with the measurements. Also, comparisons of AMS measurements with other aerosol instruments will be shown.