Observations of nitrous acid and its relative humidity dependence in Shanghai

Nitrous acid, HNO2, is an important precursor of OH radicals in the troposphere. Measurements of HNO2 and NO2, using differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS), were performed in Shanghai, China for a period from October 22, 2004 to January 4, 2005. The mean (and median) hourly concentrations of HNO2 and NO2 during this period were 1.1 (0.7) ppb and 24 (21.4) ppb respectively. A correlation between HNO2/NO2 and PM10 mass concentrations was obtained. This correlation suggests that significant heterogeneous chemical production of HNO2 may occur through NO2 reactions on aerosol surfaces. This hypothesis was further supported by detailed analysis of selected pollution episodes in this study. At the same time, the water dependence of HNO2 formation was studied by analysis of relative humidity (RH). It showed that the maximum HNO2/NO2 ratio was increased along with RH below 70% and inhibited at RH>70%.