A two-dimensional volatility basis set: 1. organic-aerosol mixing thermodynamics

We develop the thermodynamic underpinnings of a two-dimensional volatility basis set (2D-VBS) employ- ing saturation mass concentration (C o ) and the oxygen con- tent (O:C) to describe volatility, mixing thermodynamics, and chemical evolution of organic aerosol. The work ad- dresses a simple question: "Can we reasonably constrain organic-aerosol composition in the atmosphere based on only two measurable organic properties, volatility and the extent of oxygenation?" This is an extension of our earlier one- dimensional approach employing volatility only (C = C o , where is an activity coefficient). Using available con- straints on bulk organic-aerosol composition, we argue that one can reasonably predict the composition of organics (car- bon, oxygen and hydrogen numbers) given a location in the C o - O:C space. Further, we argue that we can constrain the activity coefficients at various locations in this space based on the O:C of the organic aerosol.