scholarly journals Chemical Characterization of PM1 at a Regional Background Site in the Western Mediterranean

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 530-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuria Galindo ◽  
Eduardo Yubero ◽  
Jose F. Nicolás ◽  
Javier Crespo ◽  
Rubén Soler
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Background Site ◽  
Regional Background

scholarly journals Chemical characterization of submicron regional background aerosols in the Western Mediterranean using an Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 965-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Minguillón ◽  
A. Ripoll ◽  
N. Pérez ◽  
A. S. H. Prévôt ◽  
F. Canonaco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Chemical Speciation ◽  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Data Matrix ◽  
Mass Spectral ◽  
Submicron Aerosol ◽  
Regional Background ◽  
Multilinear Engine

Abstract. An Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM, Aerodyne Research Inc.) was deployed at Montseny (MSY, 720 m a.s.l.) regional background site in the Western Mediterranean from June 2012 to July 2013 to measure real-time inorganic (nitrate, sulphate, ammonium and chloride) and organic submicron aerosol concentrations. Co-located measurements were also carried out including real-time submicron particulate matter (PM1) and black carbon (BC) concentrations, and off-line PM1 chemical analysis. This is one of the few studies that compare ACSM data with off-line PM1 measurements, avoiding the tail of the coarse mode included in the PM2.5 fraction. The ACSM + BC concentrations agreed with the PM1 measurements, and strong correlation was found between the concentrations of ACSM species and the off-line measurements, although some discrepancies remain unexplained. Results point to a current underestimation of the relative ionization efficiency (RIE) established for organic aerosol (OA), which should be revised in the future. The OA was the major component of submicron aerosol (53% of PM1), with a higher contribution in summer (58% of PM1) than in winter (45% of PM1). Source apportionment of OA was carried out by applying Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) using the Multilinear Engine (ME-2) to the organic mass spectral data matrix. Three sources were identified in summer: hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA), low-volatile oxygenated OA (LV-OOA), and semi-volatile oxygenated OA (SV-OOA). The secondary OA (SOA, 4.7 μg m−3, sum of LV-OOA and SV-OOA) accounted for 85% of the total OA and its formation during daytime (mainly SV-OOA) was estimated to be 1.1 μg m−3. In winter, HOA was also identified (12% of OA), a contribution from biomass burning OA was included, and it was not possible to differentiate two different SOA factors but a single OOA factor was resolved. The OOA contribution represented the 60% of the total OA, with a degree of oxidation higher than both OOA summer factors. An intense wildfire episode was studied obtaining a region-specific BBOA profile.

scholarly journals Chemical characterization of submicron regional background aerosols in the western Mediterranean using an Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 6379-6391 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Minguillón ◽  
A. Ripoll ◽  
N. Pérez ◽  
A. S. H. Prévôt ◽  
F. Canonaco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Chemical Speciation ◽  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Data Matrix ◽  
Mass Spectral ◽  
Submicron Aerosol ◽  
Regional Background ◽  
Multilinear Engine

Abstract. An Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM, Aerodyne Research Inc.) was deployed at the Montseny (MSY; 41° 46'46" N, 02° 21'29" E, 720 m a.s.l.) regional background site in the western Mediterranean, Spain, from June 2012 to July 2013 to measure real-time inorganic (nitrate, sulfate, ammonium and chloride) and organic submicron aerosol concentrations. Co-located measurements, including real-time submicron particulate matter (PM1) and black carbon (BC) concentrations, and off-line PM1 chemical analysis were also carried out. This is one of the few studies that compare ACSM data with off-line PM1 measurements, avoiding the tail of the coarse mode included in the PM2.5 fraction. The ACSM + BC concentrations agreed with the PM1 measurements, and a strong correlation was found between the concentrations of ACSM species and the off-line measurements, although some discrepancies remain unexplained. Results point to a current underestimation of the relative ionization efficiency (RIE) established for organic aerosol (OA), which should be revised in the future. The OA was the major component of submicron aerosol (53% of PM1), with a higher contribution in summer (58% of PM1) than in winter (45% of PM1). Source apportionment of OA was carried out by applying positive matrix factorization (PMF), using the multilinear engine (ME-2) to the organic mass spectral data matrix. Three sources were identified in summer: hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA), low-volatile oxygenated OA (LV-OOA), and semi-volatile oxygenated OA (SV-OOA). The secondary OA (SOA; 4.8 μg m−3, sum of LV-OOA and SV-OOA) accounted for 85% of the total OA, and its formation during daytime (mainly SV-OOA) was estimated to be 1.1 μg m−3. In winter, HOA was also identified (12% of OA), a contribution from biomass burning OA (BBOA) was included and it was not possible to differentiate between two different SOA factors, but a single oxygenated OA (OOA) factor was resolved. The OOA contribution represented 60% of the total OA, with a degree of oxidation higher than both OOA summer factors. An intense wildfire episode was studied, obtaining a region-specific BBOA profile.

Chemical characterization of fine particles (PM2.5) at a coastal site in the South Western Mediterranean during the ChArMex experiment

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (16) ◽  
pp. 20427-20445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelkader Lemou ◽  
Lyes Rabhi ◽  
Hamza Merabet ◽  
Riad Ladji ◽  
José B Nicolas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fine Particles ◽  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
The South ◽  
Coastal Site

scholarly journals Joint analysis of continental and regional background environments in the western Mediterranean: PM<sub>1</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> concentrations and composition

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 1129-1145 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ripoll ◽  
M. C. Minguillón ◽  
J. Pey ◽  
N. Pérez ◽  
X. Querol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Background Site ◽  
Regional Background ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
Dust Resuspension

Abstract. The complete chemical composition of atmospheric particulate matter (PM1 and PM10) from a continental (Montsec, MSC, 1570 m a.s.l.) and a regional (Montseny, MSY, 720 m a.s.l) background site in the western Mediterranean Basin (WMB) were jointly studied for the first time over a relatively long-term period (January 2010–March 2013). Differences in average PMX concentration and composition between both sites were attributed to distance to anthropogenic sources, altitude, and different influence of atmospheric episodes. All these factors result in a continental-to-regional background increase of 4.0 μg m−3 for PM10 and 1.1 μg m−3 for PM1 in the WMB. This increase is mainly constituted by organic matter, sulfate, nitrate, and sea salt. However, higher mineral matter concentrations were measured at the continental background site owing to the higher influence of long-range transport of dust and dust resuspension. Seasonal variations of aerosol chemical components were attributed to evolution of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) height throughout the year, variations in the air mass origin, and differences in meteorology. During warmer months, weak pressure gradients and elevated insolation generate recirculation of air masses and enhance the development of the PBL, causing the aging of aerosols and incrementing pollutant concentrations over a large area in the WMB, including the continental background. This is reflected in a more similar relative composition and absolute concentrations of continental and regional background aerosols. Nevertheless, during colder months the thermal inversions and the lower vertical development of the PBL leave MSC in the free troposphere most of the time, whereas MSY is more influenced by regional pollutants accumulated under winter anticyclonic conditions. This results in much lower concentrations of PMX components at the continental background site with respect to those at the regional background site. The influence of certain atmospheric episodes caused different impacts at regional and continental scales. When long-range transport from central and eastern Europe and from north Africa occurs, the continental background site is frequently more influenced, thus indicating a preferential transport of pollutants at high altitude layers. Conversely, the regional background site was more influenced by regional processes. Continental and regional aerosol chemical composition from the WMB revealed (a) high relevance of African dust transport and regional dust resuspension; (b) low biomass burning contribution; (c) high organic matter contribution; (d) low summer nitrate concentrations; and (e) high aerosol homogenization in summer.

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

2020 ◽  
Vol 260 ◽  
pp. 113771 ◽  
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

scholarly journals Joint analysis of continental and regional background environments in the Western Mediterranean: PM<sub>1</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> concentrations and composition

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 16001-16041 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ripoll ◽  
M. C. Minguillón ◽  
J. Pey ◽  
N. Pérez ◽  
X. Querol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regional Scale ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Atmospheric Particulate Matter ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Joint Analysis ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Background Site ◽  
Regional Background ◽  
Western Mediterranean Basin

Abstract. The complete chemical composition of atmospheric particulate matter (PM1 and PM10) from a continental (Montsec, MSC, 1570 m a.s.l.) and a regional (Montseny, MSY, 720 m a.s.l.) background site in the Western Mediterranean Basin (WMB) were jointly studied for the first time for a relatively long-term series (January 2010–March 2013). Differences on average PM concentration and composition and on seasonal variation between both sites were attributed to: distance to anthropogenic sources, altitude, height evolution of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) throughout the year, variations in the air mass origin, and changes in meteorology. The diverse meteorological episodes showed different influence at regional and continental scale. When long-range transport from Central and Eastern Europe and from North Africa occurs, the continental background site is frequently more influenced, thus indicating a preferential transport at high altitude layers. Conversely, the regional background was more influenced by regional processes. In winter, anticyclonic conditions enhance the stagnation of air masses with the consequent accumulation of pollutants at regional scale in the WMB, whereas the continental background site remains in the free troposphere. Totally different conditions drive the aerosol phenomenology in summer. Weak pressure gradients and elevated insolation generate recirculation of air masses and enhances the development of the PBL, causing the aging of aerosols and incrementing pollutant concentrations over a larger area, including the continental background. This is reflected in a more similar relative composition and absolute concentrations of PM components at both regional and continental background environments in the warmer season Peculiarities of the WMB are: (a) high relevance of African dust transport and regional dust resuspension; (b) low biomass burning contribution; (c) low summer nitrate concentrations; and (d) high aerosol homogenization in summer.

Olfactory and Chemical Characterization of Indoor Air-Towards a Psychophysical Model for Air Quality

1981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgitta Berglund ◽  
Ulf Berglund ◽  
Thomas Lindvall ◽  
Helene Nicander-Bredberg
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Chemical Characterization
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