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Atmospheric measurements of pyruvic and formic acidPyruvic acid, a product of the atmospheric oxidation of cresols and probably of isoprene, has been determined together with formic acid in atmospheric aerosols and rain as well as in the vapor phase. Both acids are present predominantly as vapor; only about 10-20 percent of the total atmospheric pyruvate and 1-2 percent of the total formate are in the particulate phase. The concentrations of pyruvic and formic acid are highly correlated, with typical formic-to-pyruvic ratios of 10-30 in the gas phase, 20-30 in rain, and 2-10 in aerosols. The gas-phase and rain ratios are comparable to those predicted to result from isoprene oxidation. Pyruvic acid levels were similar in the eastern United States (during summer) and the Amazon Basin, suggesting that natural processes, particularly the photochemical oxidation of isoprene, could account for most of the pyruvic acid present in the atmosphere.
Document ID
19870059205
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Andreae, Meinrat O.
(Florida State Univ. Tallahassee, FL, United States)
Li, Shao-Meng
(Florida State University Tallahassee, United States)
Talbot, Robert W.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
June 20, 1987
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 92
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Accession Number
87A46479
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-84-07137
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG1-588
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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