The Relative Importance of HNO3 and RONO2 as NOX Sinks in the Colorado Front Range

NOX (NO + NO2) is a regulated pollutant, primarily emitted from combustion processes, that contributes to the formation of ground level ozone. The lifetime of NOX in the atmosphere, and therefore its contribution to ozone production, is controlled by the loss of NOX to various sinks, primarily HNO3 and RONO2. As NOX concentrations in urban areas decrease due to regulation, the relative importance of these NOX sinks shifts from HNO3 being the dominant sink to RONO2 becoming more significant. Using measurements from the DISCOVER-AQ and FRAPPE campaigns from the summer of 2014, we examine the relative importance of HNO3 and RONO2 as NOX sinks and their relation to NOX concentration in the Colorado Front Range.