Oxygenated Organic Molecules over the Boundary Layer Aloft in Beijing

Oxygenated organic molecules (OOMs) originate from both direct emissions and secondary formation via the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from biogenic and anthropogenic sources. OOMs are suggested to play a crucial role in the nucleation and growth of newly formed particles, which in turn influence climate, health and air quality. However, OOMs and the associated nucleation and growth of aerosols in the boundary layer aloft are not considered in atmospheric chemistry models owing to limited observation data. Here, by using unique measurements on the top of a 528 m building tower in Beijing, we show that a variety of OOMs existed, dominated by C_6–7 and C₅ compounds, which probably arose from multigeneration oxidation of aromatic compounds and isoprene, respectively. Consequently, five possible formation pathways of OOMs were identified using a machine learning approach combined with their diurnal patterns. Further analysis suggested that OOMs, together with sulfuric acid and ammonia, are highly involved in the formation of nanoparticles. Our results complement the current mechanism of ammonia-sulfuric acid nucleation in the boundary layer aloft of anthropogenically influenced regions, highlighting the important role of OOMs in the nucleation and growth of aerosol. We suggest that OOMs should be considered in atmospheric chemistry models for better prediction accuracy.