Measurement report: Spatial variability of VOCs, ozone, and carbonaceous aerosols during the 2022 European summer heatwave
Aas, Wenche ; Roldin, Pontus LU ; Thomasson, August LU
and Yttri, Karl Espen
(2026)
In Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
26(12).
p.8717-8751
- Abstract
- This study presents results from an Intensive Measurement Period (IMP2022) conducted during the European heatwave of July 2022, focusing on ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbonaceous aerosols at 31 sites across Europe. The episode featured persistent high-pressure systems, record-breaking temperatures, widespread ozone exceedances and concurrent atmospheric new particle formation and growth events. Coordinated measurements and chemistry transport modelling were used to examine the spatial variability of ozone, VOC composition, and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation under extreme meteorological conditions. Oxygenated VOCs (O-VOCs) constituted the largest fraction of total measured VOC mixing ratios, followed by... (More)
- This study presents results from an Intensive Measurement Period (IMP2022) conducted during the European heatwave of July 2022, focusing on ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbonaceous aerosols at 31 sites across Europe. The episode featured persistent high-pressure systems, record-breaking temperatures, widespread ozone exceedances and concurrent atmospheric new particle formation and growth events. Coordinated measurements and chemistry transport modelling were used to examine the spatial variability of ozone, VOC composition, and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation under extreme meteorological conditions. Oxygenated VOCs (O-VOCs) constituted the largest fraction of total measured VOC mixing ratios, followed by non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and aromatics, with contributions from both anthropogenic and biogenic sources. Sensitivity simulations indicate that ozone formation was predominantly NOx-limited across most regions during IMP2022. However, the highest ozone peaks occurred under conditions of elevated NOx in combination with enhanced BVOC emissions. In contrast, SOA formation was slightly enhanced under low-NOx conditions and reduced in elevated NOx. Isoprene, aliphatic NMHCs, and O-VOCs dominated the ozone formation potential, while aromatics and monoterpenes were major contributors to SOA potential. Model simulations indicated that higher NOx concentrations can reduce SOA formation by about 10 %. The campaign also highlighted observational gaps underscoring the need for broader and higher-resolution VOC monitoring across Europe. Overall, further reductions in NOx emissions, alongside targeted control of key anthropogenic VOCs, would benefit air quality under future climate extremes. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1f5dbcda-79a1-4b5b-802f-b086867acecb
- author
- Aas, Wenche
; Roldin, Pontus
LU
; Thomasson, August
LU
and Yttri, Karl Espen
- author collaboration
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
- volume
- 26
- issue
- 12
- pages
- 8717 - 8751
- publisher
- Copernicus GmbH
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105042873976
- ISSN
- 1680-7324
- DOI
- 10.5194/acp-26-8717-2026
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 1f5dbcda-79a1-4b5b-802f-b086867acecb
- date added to LUP
- 2026-09-04 12:08:49
- date last changed
- 2026-09-05 04:00:52
@article{1f5dbcda-79a1-4b5b-802f-b086867acecb,
abstract = {{This study presents results from an Intensive Measurement Period (IMP2022) conducted during the European heatwave of July 2022, focusing on ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbonaceous aerosols at 31 sites across Europe. The episode featured persistent high-pressure systems, record-breaking temperatures, widespread ozone exceedances and concurrent atmospheric new particle formation and growth events. Coordinated measurements and chemistry transport modelling were used to examine the spatial variability of ozone, VOC composition, and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation under extreme meteorological conditions. Oxygenated VOCs (O-VOCs) constituted the largest fraction of total measured VOC mixing ratios, followed by non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and aromatics, with contributions from both anthropogenic and biogenic sources. Sensitivity simulations indicate that ozone formation was predominantly NO<sub>x</sub>-limited across most regions during IMP2022. However, the highest ozone peaks occurred under conditions of elevated NO<sub>x</sub> in combination with enhanced BVOC emissions. In contrast, SOA formation was slightly enhanced under low-NO<sub>x</sub> conditions and reduced in elevated NO<sub>x</sub>. Isoprene, aliphatic NMHCs, and O-VOCs dominated the ozone formation potential, while aromatics and monoterpenes were major contributors to SOA potential. Model simulations indicated that higher NO<sub>x</sub> concentrations can reduce SOA formation by about 10 %. The campaign also highlighted observational gaps underscoring the need for broader and higher-resolution VOC monitoring across Europe. Overall, further reductions in NO<sub>x</sub> emissions, alongside targeted control of key anthropogenic VOCs, would benefit air quality under future climate extremes.}},
author = {{Aas, Wenche and Roldin, Pontus and Thomasson, August and Yttri, Karl Espen}},
issn = {{1680-7324}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{12}},
pages = {{8717--8751}},
publisher = {{Copernicus GmbH}},
series = {{Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics}},
title = {{Measurement report: Spatial variability of VOCs, ozone, and carbonaceous aerosols during the 2022 European summer heatwave}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-8717-2026}},
doi = {{10.5194/acp-26-8717-2026}},
volume = {{26}},
year = {{2026}},
}