Radiocarbon-Based Source Apportionment of Carbonaceous Aerosols at a Regional Background Site on Hainan Island, South China

Abstract. We present results from the international field campaign DAURE (Determination of the sources of atmospheric Aerosols in Urban and Rural Environments in the western Mediterranean), with the objective of apportioning the sources of fine carbonaceous aerosols. Submicron fine particulate matter (PM1) samples were collected during February-March 2009 and July 2009 at an urban background site in Barcelona (BCN) and at a forested regional background site in Montseny (MSY). We present radiocarbon (14C) analysis for elemental and organic carbon (EC and OC) and source apportionment for these data. We combine the results with those from component analysis of aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) measurements, and compare to levoglucosan-based estimates of biomass burning OC, source apportionment of filter data with inorganic+EC+OC speciation, submicron bulk potassium (K) concentrations, and gaseous acetonitrile concentrations. At BCN, 87 % and 91 % of the EC on average, in winter and summer, respectively, had a fossil origin, whereas at MSY these fractions were 66 % and 79 %. The contribution of fossil sources to organic carbon (OC) at BCN was 40 % and 48 %, in winter and summer, respectively, and 31 % and 25 % at MSY. The combination of results obtained using the 14C technique, AMS data, and the correlations between fossil OC and fossil EC imply that the fossil OC at Barcelona is ~65 % primary whereas at MSY the fossil OC is mainly secondary (~85 %). Day-to-day variation in total carbonaceous aerosol loading and the relative contributions of different sources predominantly depended on the meteorological transport conditions. The estimated biogenic secondary OC at MSY only increased by ~40 % compared to the order-of-magnitude increase observed for biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) between winter and summer, which highlights the uncertainties in the estimation of that component. Biomass burning contributions estimated using the 14C technique ranged from similar to higher than when estimated using other techniques, and the different estimations were highly or moderately correlated. Differences can be explained by the contribution of secondary organic matter (not included in the primary biomass burning source estimates), and/or by an overestimation of the biomass burning OC contribution by the 14C technique if the estimated biomass burning EC/OC ratio used for the calculations is too high for this region. Acetonitrile concentrations correlate well with the biomass burning EC determined by 14C. K is a noisy tracer for biomass burning.

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Source apportionment of PM 2.5 at the Lin'an regional background site in China with three receptor models

Atmospheric Research ◽

10.1016/j.atmosres.2017.11.017 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 202 ◽

pp. 23-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Junjun Deng ◽

Yanru Zhang ◽

Yuqing Qiu ◽

Hongliang Zhang ◽

Wenjiao Du ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Source Apportionment ◽

Pm 2.5 ◽

Receptor Models ◽

Background Site ◽

Regional Background

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Source Apportionment Using Radiocarbon and Organic Tracers for PM2.5 Carbonaceous Aerosols in Guangzhou, South China: Contrasting Local- and Regional-Scale Haze Events

Environmental Science & Technology ◽

10.1021/es503102w ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 48 (20) ◽

pp. 12002-12011 ◽

Cited By ~ 78

Author(s):

Junwen Liu ◽

Jun Li ◽

Yanlin Zhang ◽

Di Liu ◽

Ping Ding ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Source Apportionment ◽

South China ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Carbonaceous Aerosols

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Fossil versus contemporary sources of fine elemental and organic carbonaceous particulate matter during the DAURE campaign in Northeast Spain

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-11-12067-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (23) ◽

pp. 12067-12084 ◽

Cited By ~ 122

Author(s):

M. C. Minguillón ◽

N. Perron ◽

X. Querol ◽

S. Szidat ◽

S. M. Fahrni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Source Apportionment ◽

Biomass Burning ◽

Atmospheric Aerosols ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Carbonaceous Aerosol ◽

Carbonaceous Aerosols ◽

Background Site

Abstract. We present results from the international field campaign DAURE (Determination of the sources of atmospheric Aerosols in Urban and Rural Environments in the Western Mediterranean), with the objective of apportioning the sources of fine carbonaceous aerosols. Submicron fine particulate matter (PM1) samples were collected during February–March 2009 and July 2009 at an urban background site in Barcelona (BCN) and at a forested regional background site in Montseny (MSY). We present radiocarbon (14C) analysis for elemental and organic carbon (EC and OC) and source apportionment for these data. We combine the results with those from component analysis of aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) measurements, and compare to levoglucosan-based estimates of biomass burning OC, source apportionment of filter data with inorganic composition + EC + OC, submicron bulk potassium (K) concentrations, and gaseous acetonitrile concentrations. At BCN, 87 % and 91 % of the EC on average, in winter and summer, respectively, had a fossil origin, whereas at MSY these fractions were 66 % and 79 %. The contribution of fossil sources to organic carbon (OC) at BCN was 40 % and 48 %, in winter and summer, respectively, and 31 % and 25 % at MSY. The combination of results obtained using the 14C technique, AMS data, and the correlations between fossil OC and fossil EC imply that the fossil OC at Barcelona is ∼47 % primary whereas at MSY the fossil OC is mainly secondary (∼85 %). Day-to-day variation in total carbonaceous aerosol loading and the relative contributions of different sources predominantly depended on the meteorological transport conditions. The estimated biogenic secondary OC at MSY only increased by ∼40 % compared to the order-of-magnitude increase observed for biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) between winter and summer, which highlights the uncertainties in the estimation of that component. Biomass burning contributions estimated using the 14C technique ranged from similar to slightly higher than when estimated using other techniques, and the different estimations were highly or moderately correlated. Differences can be explained by the contribution of secondary organic matter (not included in the primary biomass burning source estimates), and/or by an overestimation of the biomass burning OC contribution by the 14C technique if the estimated biomass burning EC/OC ratio used for the calculations is too high for this region. Acetonitrile concentrations correlate well with the biomass burning EC determined by 14C. K is a noisy tracer for biomass burning.

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Characterization of Equivalent Black Carbon at a regional background site in Central Europe: Variability and source apportionment☆

Environmental Pollution ◽

10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113771 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 260 ◽

pp. 113771 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Saliou Mbengue ◽

Norbert Serfozo ◽

Jaroslav Schwarz ◽

Nadezda Ziková ◽

Adéla Holubová Šmejkalová ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Black Carbon ◽

Source Apportionment ◽

Central Europe ◽

Background Site ◽

Regional Background

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A two-year study of carbonaceous aerosols in ambient PM2.5 at a regional background site for western Yangtze River Delta, China

Atmospheric Research ◽

10.1016/j.atmosres.2016.09.004 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 183 ◽

pp. 351-361 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Dong Chen ◽

Hongfei Cui ◽

Yu Zhao ◽

Lina Yin ◽

Yan Lu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Yangtze River ◽

Yangtze River Delta ◽

River Delta ◽

Carbonaceous Aerosols ◽

Background Site ◽

Regional Background

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Source apportionment and dynamic changes of carbonaceous aerosols during the haze bloom–decay process in China based on radiocarbon and organic molecular tracers

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions ◽

10.5194/acpd-15-34949-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (23) ◽

pp. 34949-34979 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Liu ◽

J. Li ◽

D. Liu ◽

P. Ding ◽

C. Shen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Source Apportionment ◽

Biomass Burning ◽

South China ◽

Fossil Fuel ◽

Decay Process ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Carbonaceous Aerosols ◽

Fossil Carbon

Abstract. Fine carbonaceous aerosols (CAs) is the key factor influencing the currently filthy air in megacities of China, yet seldom study simultaneously focuses on the origins of different CAs species using specific and powerful source tracers. Here, we present a detailed source apportionment for various CAs fractions, including organic carbon (OC), water-soluble OC (WSOC), water-insoluble OC (WIOC), elemental carbon (EC) and secondary OC (SOC) in the largest cities of North (Beijing, BJ) and South China (Guangzhou, GZ), respectively, using the measurements of radiocarbon and anhydrosugars. Results show that non-fossil fuel sources such as biomass burning and biogenic emission make a significant contribution to the total CAs in Chinese megacities: 56 ± 4 % in BJ and 46 ± 5 % in GZ, respectively. The relative contributions of primary fossil carbon from coal and liquid petroleum combustions, primary non-fossil carbon and secondary organic carbon (SOC) to total carbon are 19, 28 and 54 % in BJ, and 40, 15 and 46 % in GZ, respectively. Non-fossil fuel sources account for 52 % in BJ and 71 % in GZ of SOC, respectively. These results suggest that biomass burning has a greater influence on regional particulate air pollution in North China than in South China. We observed an unabridged haze bloom–decay process in South China, which illustrates that both primary and secondary matter from fossil sources played a key role in the blooming phase of the pollution episode, while haze phase is predominantly driven by fossil-derived secondary organic matter and nitrate.

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Source Apportionment of PM2.5 in Florence (Italy) by PMF Analysis of Aerosol Composition Records

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos11050484 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 484

Author(s):

Silvia Nava ◽

Giulia Calzolai ◽

Massimo Chiari ◽

Martina Giannoni ◽

Fabio Giardi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Source Apportionment ◽

Biomass Burning ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Saharan Dust ◽

High Time Resolution ◽

Aerosol Composition ◽

Emission Analysis ◽

Background Site ◽

Regional Background ◽

Traffic Site

An extensive field campaign was carried out in Florence (Tuscany) to investigate the PM2.5 composition and to identify its sources. The scientific objective of this study is providing a reliable source apportionment, which is mandatory for the application of effective mitigation actions. Particulate matter (PM) was collected for one year, simultaneously in a traffic site, in an urban background, and in a regional background site. While the use of two filter types (quartz and Teflon) allowed obtaining a comprehensive chemical characterization (elemental and organic carbon, ions, elements) by the application of different analytical techniques, the location of the three sampling sites allowed getting a better separation among local, urban, regional and transboundary sources. During shorter periods, the aerosol was also collected by means of a streaker sampler and PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) analysis of these samples allowed the assessment of hourly resolution elemental time trends. Positive matrix factorisation (PMF) identified seven main sources: traffic, biomass burning, secondary sulphate, secondary nitrates, urban dust, Saharan dust and marine aerosol. Traffic mass concentration contributions were found to be strong only at the traffic site (~8 μg·m−3, 33% of PM2.5). Biomass burning turned out to be an important PM2.5 source in Florence (~4 μg·m−3), with very similar weights in both city sites while at the regional background site its weight was negligible. Secondary sulphate is an important PM2.5 source on a regional scale, with comparable values in all three sites (~3.5 μg·m−3). On average, the contribution of the “natural” components (e.g., mineral dust and marine aerosols) to PM2.5 is moderate (~1 μg·m−3) except during Saharan dust intrusions where this contribution is higher (detected simultaneously in all three sites). High-time resolution data confirmed and reinforced these results.

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Source apportionment and dynamic changes of carbonaceous aerosols during the haze bloom-decay process in China based on radiocarbon and organic molecular tracers

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-16-2985-2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (5) ◽

pp. 2985-2996 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Junwen Liu ◽

Jun Li ◽

Di Liu ◽

Ping Ding ◽

Chengde Shen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Source Apportionment ◽

Biomass Burning ◽

South China ◽

Fossil Fuel ◽

Decay Process ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Carbonaceous Aerosols ◽

Fossil Carbon

Abstract. Fine carbonaceous aerosols (CAs) is the key factor influencing the currently filthy air in megacities in China, yet few studies simultaneously focus on the origins of different CAs species using specific and powerful source tracers. Here, we present a detailed source apportionment for various CAs fractions, including organic carbon (OC), water-soluble OC (WSOC), water-insoluble OC (WIOC), elemental carbon (EC) and secondary OC (SOC) in the largest cities of North (Beijing, BJ) and South China (Guangzhou, GZ), using the measurements of radiocarbon and anhydrosugars. Results show that non-fossil fuel sources such as biomass burning and biogenic emission make a significant contribution to the total CAs in Chinese megacities: 56 ± 4 in BJ and 46 ± 5 % in GZ, respectively. The relative contributions of primary fossil carbon from coal and liquid petroleum combustions, primary non-fossil carbon and secondary organic carbon (SOC) to total carbon are 19, 28 and 54 % in BJ, and 40, 15 and 46 % in GZ, respectively. Non-fossil fuel sources account for 52 in BJ and 71 % in GZ of SOC, respectively. These results suggest that biomass burning has a greater influence on regional particulate air pollution in North China than in South China. We observed an unabridged haze bloom-decay process in South China, which illustrates that both primary and secondary matter from fossil sources played a key role in the blooming phase of the pollution episode, while haze phase is predominantly driven by fossil-derived secondary organic matter and nitrate.

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