Modelling the Contribution of Peroxy Radical Accretion Products to Atmospheric Aerosols
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Recent theoretical calculations, alongside laboratory chamber studies and field observations, have suggested that the dimerisation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) via peroxy radical (RO2) cross-reactions could be an important mechanism of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. This is particularly true in remote regions with low atmospheric NO concentrations. However, the magnitude of the importance of this chemical pathway for global air quality and climate is yet to be estimated. This presentation will outline some recent box-modelling results that test an implementation of this dimerisation chemistry in a semi-explicit chemical mechanism, as well as a reduced form designed for use in a global chemical transport model. The results of this modelling demonstrate the importance of the new accretion products for SOA formation, provide insight into the chemical composition of RO2 accretion products, demonstrate the role of high-mass VOCs in the formation of SOA from RO2 dimerisation, and pave the way for the inclusion of detailed dimerization chemistry in a global chemical transport model.