

In (b) and (c), triangles represent α-pinene only and circles represent α-pinene + isoprene conditions. The overall systematic scale uncertainty of HOMs of +78 % and −68 % and of J for ±47 % is not shown. C data for α-pinene only and α-pinene + isoprene systems.Thick solid black and red lines represent power-law fits to +25 Red solid and dashed-dotted lines are power-law fits to J gcr and J n in the presence of isoprene at +5 Black solid and dashed-dotted lines are parameterisations of J gcr and J n from Kirkby et al. Colour shows isoprene-to-monoterpene carbon ratio (R). C all data points are with UV light on.Magenta edges indicate UV-illuminated conditions at +5

Small grey points were taken from Kirkby et al. (a) Triangles represent J gcr and circles J n. Relative humidity is 38 % for all data points. HOM total is defined as the sum of C 5, C 10, C 15 and C 20 carbon classes. Pure biogenic nucleation rates at 1.7 nm diameter (a) and growth rates (b, c) against total HOM concentration with and without isoprene added at +5 and +25 Therefore the formation rate of organic aerosol in a particular region of the atmosphere under study will vary according to the precise ambient conditions. Species that reduce the C₂₀ yield, such as NO, HO₂ and as we show isoprene, can thus effectively reduce biogenic nucleation and early growth.

) reduces particle formation in our chemical system rather than enhances it as previously proposed, since it increases isoprene-derived RO₂.

We further show that increased hydroxyl radical (OH However, above 3.2 nm, C₁₅ dimers contribute to secondary organic aerosol, and the growth rates are unaffected by isoprene. Compared with pure monoterpene conditions, isoprene reduces nucleation rates at 1.7 nm (depending on the isoprene ∕ monoterpene ratio) and approximately halves particle growth rates between 1.3 and 3.2 nm.
