THE MEASUREMENT OF C3-C5 ALKYL NITRATES AT A COASTAL SAMPLING SITE INTHE SOUTHERN-HEMISPHERE

The mixing ratios of alkyl nitrates measured at a coastal site on the south-east coast of Southern Africa were generally in the low-pptv ran ge. Variations in absolute and relative concentrations of the alkyl ni trates could be related to changes in meteorological conditions. It is considered that the differences observed in chemical composition may represent different sources of trace gas emissions or different degree s of photochemical processing of similar sources. The measured levels of the alkyl nitrates suggest long-range transport to play a major rol e in regulating the distribution of alkyl nitrates in the troposphere.