The formation mechanisms and gas precursors of secondary organic aerosol remain poorly characterized

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the stated challenges and limitations section and stated research gap and future-work section of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2024 and 2025, all from Atmospheric chemistry and physics. Those papers have been cited 66 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 5 representative gaps

• Enhanced daytime secondary aerosol formation driven by gas–particle partitioning in downwind urban plumes (2024) · Atmospheric chemistry and physics · cited 10× · doi

  The formation mechanisms and gas precursors of secondary organic aerosol remain poorly characterized. Models are especially challenged in reproducing secondary organic aerosol concentration and properties. The study had to account for the complex interactions between pollutants within urban plumes and organic aerosol evolution.

  generalstated challengesevidence 5/5
  Keywords: formation mechanisms gas precursors secondary organic aerosol remain
• Uncertainties from biomass burning aerosols in air quality models obscure public health impacts in Southeast Asia (2024) · Atmospheric chemistry and physics · cited 22× · doi

  Measurements of surface air quality are sparse across the region. The model substantially underestimates the regional aerosol burden. The choice of inventory can have a significant impact on model aerosols. The study only considers a moderate burning year (2014). The model is limited by uncertainties in simulating emissions of aerosols from biomass burning.

  generallimitations sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: measurements surface air quality sparse across region model
• Biomass burning emission analysis based on MODIS aerosol optical depth and AeroCom multi-model simulations: implications for model constraints and emission inventories (2025) · Atmospheric chemistry and physics · cited 6× · doi

  The need for increased numbers of available biomass burning cases for study in some regions. The lack of extensive regional-to-global-scale measurements of aerosol loss rates and detailed particle microphysical and optical properties. The challenge of distinguishing biomass burning from other aerosol types in satellite retrievals.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: need increased numbers available biomass burning cases study
• Biomass burning emission analysis based on MODIS aerosol optical depth and AeroCom multi-model simulations: implications for model constraints and emission inventories (2025) · Atmospheric chemistry and physics · cited 6× · doi

  The challenge of accurately characterizing the strength of biomass burning sources. The limitation of using satellite-derived AOD snapshots to constrain source strength in regions with high non-biomass burning aerosol fractions. The need to account for differences in model structure, parameterizations, and assumed particle sizes and properties.

  generalstated challengesevidence 5/5
  Keywords: challenge accurately characterizing strength biomass burning sources limitation
• Uncertainties from biomass burning aerosols in air quality models obscure public health impacts in Southeast Asia (2024) · Atmospheric chemistry and physics · cited 22× · doi

  Further research is needed to improve the model representation of biomass burning aerosols. Studies should investigate the impact of different inventories on model aerosols. Research should focus on reducing uncertainties in simulating emissions of aerosols from biomass burning. More measurements of surface air quality are needed to better understand the public health impacts of biomass burning in Southeast Asia.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 4/5
  Keywords: further research needed improve model representation biomass burning

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