Clouds represent complex media where many species can be transformed. In order to characterize the chemical composition of cloud water and to better understand the processes involved in the transformations of these species, the characterization and the photoreactivity of cloud water were studied. The characterization of cloud water showed that air masses sampled at the puy de Dôme station can be subject to different influences (marine, continental and anthropogenic). The distribution of the physicochemical parameters and of inorganic compounds was different for each kind of air masses. Moreover, the quantification of carboxylic acids and aldehydes showed the complexity of the organic matter contained in cloud water, with the presence of many unknown organic compounds. The photoreactivity of cloud water was also studied, showing that the oxidizing capacity of cloud water and the degradation rate of organic compounds were higher in polluted air masses. For the first time, hydroxyl radical formation rates were determined in cloud water sampled at the puy de Dôme station, showing that nitrate ions and hydrogen peroxide are among the main sources of hydroxyl radicals (contributing up to 80 % of their total photoformation).
