Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Arctic Atmosphere: Insights from High-Resolution Measurements of VOCs at Villum Research Station

Atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) influence air quality and climate by participating in chemical reactions that convert them into low-volatility species. These species can contribute to the formation of new particles or condense onto existing aerosol mass. In the presence of NO_x, VOC reactions also lead to the production of ground-level ozone. Despite their significance, measurements of VOCs in remote regions such as the Arctic remain scarce, leaving critical gaps in our understanding of their sources, sinks, and chemistry in these pristine environments.

To address this, we conducted field measurements of atmospheric VOCs at the Villum Research Station in northern Greenland from 20 July to 15 August 2024 using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS). By employing a high-resolution instrument (PTR-ToF MS 8000; Ionicon Analytik GmbH, Innsbruck, Austria), we identified a broader range of atmospheric VOCs compared to earlier studies at the same site that used a lower-resolution instrument.

In this study, we focus on the concentration levels, chemical family compositions, and source characteristics of VOCs using the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. We further analyze variations in VOC levels based on back-trajectory data, providing insights into the transport and transformation of these compounds in the Arctic atmosphere. Our findings have important implications for understanding VOC-related atmospheric chemistry in remote regions and their role in Arctic air quality and climate processes.