High contribution of biogenic hydroperoxides to secondary organic aerosol formation

Secondary organic aerosols are believed to make an important contribution to the atmospheric radiation budget, though the exact mechanisms responsible for their formation are still uncertain. We compute a remarkably large contribution of hydroperoxides from the oxidation of biogenic monoterpenes. Although currently neglected in aerosol models, the hydroperoxides lead to 63% of our calculated global secondary organic aerosol formation, whereas carboxylic acids, usually considered as the dominant secondary organic aerosol precursors, were responsible for only 26%. Detailed studies are needed to determine the implications of this aerosol formation pathway for the total atmospheric aerosol burden and its impacts on climate.