Formation of Atmospheric Haze

Atmospheric haze is the condition of reduced visibility caused by the presence of fine particles or NO2 in the atmosphere. The particles must be 0.1-1.0 ptm in diameter, the size range in which light scattering occurs. The source of these particles may be natural or anthropogenic. 

Atmospheric haze has been observed in both the western and eastern portions of the United States. Typical visual ranges in the East are 15 miles and in the Southwest 50 miles. The desire to protect visual air quality in the United States is focused on the national parks in the West. The ability to see vistas over 50-100 km in these locations makes them particularly vulnerable to atmospheric haze. This phenomenon is generally associated with diffuse or widespread atmospheric degradation as opposed to individual plumes. 

ITie major component of atmospheric haze is sulfate particulate matter (particularly ammonium sulfate), along with varying amounts of nitrate particulate matter, which in some areas can equal the sulfate. Other components include graphitic material, fine fly ash, and organic aerosols. 

The sources of particulate matter in the atmosphere can be primary, directly injected into the atmosphere, or secondary, formed in the atmosphere by gas-to-particle conversion processes (13). The primary sources of fine particles are combustion processes, e.g., power plants and diesel 

The secondary source of fine particles in the atmosphere is gas-to-particle conversion processes, considered to be the more important source of particles contributing to atmospheric haze. In gas-to-particle conversion, gaseous molecules become transformed to liquid or solid particles. This phase transformation can occur by three processes absortion, nucleation, and condensation. Absorption is the process by which a gas goes into solution in a liquid phase. Absorption of a specific gas is dependent on the solubility of the gas in a particular liquid, e.g., SO2 in liquid H2O droplets. Nucleation and condensation are terms associated with aerosol dynamics. 

---