Atmospheric VOC measurements at a High Arctic site: characteristics and source apportionment

Abstract. There are few long-term datasets of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the High Arctic. Furthermore, knowledge about their source regions remains lacking. To address this matter, we report a multiseason dataset highly time-resolved VOC measurements Arctic from April to October 2018. We have utilized combination measurement and modeling techniques characterize mixing ratios, temporal patterns, sources VOCs at Villum Research Station Nord northeastern Greenland. Atmospheric were measured using proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Ten ions selected for apportionment with positive matrix factorization (PMF) receptor model. A four-factor solution PMF model was deemed optimal. The factors identified biomass burning, marine cryosphere, background, haze. burning factor described variation acetonitrile benzene peaked during August September. cryosphere comprised carboxylic acids (formic, acetic, C3H6O2) as well dimethyl sulfide (DMS). This displayed peak contributions periods snow sea ice melt. potential contribution function (PSCF) showed that coasts around southeastern background temporally ubiquitous, slight decrease summer. not driven by any individual chemical species. haze dominated oxygenated VOCs. exhibited maximum spring minima summer autumn. pattern species profile indicative anthropogenic midlatitudes. study provides seasonal characteristics can help elucidate processes affecting atmospheric chemistry biogeochemical feedback mechanisms