scholarly journals Size distribution, mixing state and source apportionment of black carbon aerosol in London during wintertime

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 10061-10084 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Liu ◽  
J. D. Allan ◽  
D. E. Young ◽  
H. Coe ◽  
D. Beddows ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Coating Thickness ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Core Size ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Mass Median

Abstract. Black carbon aerosols (BC) at a London urban site were characterised in both winter- and summertime 2012 during the Clean Air for London (ClearfLo) project. Positive matrix factorisation (PMF) factors of organic aerosol mass spectra measured by a high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-AMS) showed traffic-dominant sources in summer but in winter the influence of additional non-traffic sources became more important, mainly from solid fuel sources (SF). Measurements using a single particle soot photometer (SP2, DMT), showed the traffic-dominant BC exhibited an almost uniform BC core size (Dc) distribution with very thin coating thickness throughout the detectable range of Dc. However, the size distribution of Dc (project average mass median Dc = 149 ± 22 nm in winter, and 120 ± 6 nm in summer) and BC coating thickness varied significantly in winter. A novel methodology was developed to attribute the BC number concentrations and mass abundances from traffic (BCtr) and from SF (BCsf), by using a 2-D histogram of the particle optical properties as a function of BC core size, as measured by the SP2. The BCtr and BCsf showed distinctly different Dc distributions and coating thicknesses, with BCsf displaying larger Dc and larger coating thickness compared to BCtr. BC particles from different sources were also apportioned by applying a multiple linear regression between the total BC mass and each AMS-PMF factor (BC–AMS–PMF method), and also attributed by applying the absorption spectral dependence of carbonaceous aerosols to 7-wavelength Aethalometer measurements (Aethalometer method). Air masses that originated from westerly (W), southeasterly (SE), and easterly (E) sectors showed BCsf fractions that ranged from low to high, and whose mass median Dc values were 137 ± 10 nm, 143 ± 11 nm and 169 ± 29 nm, respectively. The corresponding bulk relative coating thickness of BC (coated particle size/BC core – Dp/Dc) for these same sectors was 1.28 ± 0.07, 1.45 ± 0.16 and 1.65 ± 0.19. For W, SE and E air masses, the number fraction of BCsf ranged from 6 ± 2% to 11 ± 5% to 18 ± 10%, respectively, but importantly the larger BC core sizes lead to an increased fraction of BCsf in terms of mass than number (for W, SE and E air masses, the BCsf mass fractions ranged from 16 ± 6%, 24 ± 10% and 39 ± 14%, respectively). An increased fraction of non-BC particles (particles that did not contain a BC core) was also observed when SF sources were more significant. The BC mass attribution by the SP2 method agreed well with the BC–AMS–PMF multiple linear regression method (BC–AMS–PMF : SP2 ratio = 1.05, r2 = 0.80) over the entire experimental period. Good agreement was found between BCsf attributed with the Aethalometer model and the SP2. However, the assumed absorption Ångström exponent (αwb) had to be changed according to the different air mass sectors to yield the best comparison with the SP2. This could be due to influences of fuel type or burn phase.

scholarly journals Size distribution, mixing state and source apportionments of black carbon aerosols in London during winter time

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 16291-16349 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Liu ◽  
J. D. Allan ◽  
D. E. Young ◽  
H. Coe ◽  
D. Beddows ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Coating Thickness ◽  
Core Size ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Carbon Aerosols ◽  
Mass Median

Abstract. Black carbon aerosols (BC) at a London urban site were characterized in both winter and summer time 2012 during the Clean Air for London (ClearfLo) project. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) factors of organic aerosol mass spectra measured by a high resolution aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-AMS) showed traffic-dominant sources in summer but in winter the influence of additional non-traffic sources became more important, mainly from solid fuel sources (SF). Measurements using a single particle soot photometer (SP2, DMT), showed the traffic-dominant BC exhibited an almost uniform BC core size (Dc) distribution with very thin coating thickness throughout the detectable range of Dc. However the size distribution of Dc (project average mass median Dc = 149 ± 22 nm in winter, and 120 ± 6 nm in summer) and BC coating thickness varied significantly in winter. A novel methodology was developed to attribute the BC number concentrations and mass abundances from traffic (BCtr) and from SF (BCsf), by using a 2-D histogram of the particle optical properties as a function of BC core size, as measured by the SP2. The BCtr and BCsf showed distinctly different Dc distributions and coating thicknesses, with BCsf displaying larger Dc and larger coating thickness compared to BCtr. BC particles from different sources were also apportioned by applying a multiple linear regression between the total BC mass and each AMS-PMF factor (BC-AMS-PMF method), and also attributed by applying the absorption spectral dependence of carbonaceous aerosols to 7-wavelength Aethalometer measurements (Aethalometer method). Air masses that originated from westerly (W), southeasterly (SE), or easterly (E) sectors showed BCsf fractions that ranged from low to high, and whose mass median Dc values were 137 ± 10 nm, 143 ± 11 nm, and 169 ± 29 nm respectively. The corresponding bulk relative coating thickness of BC (coated particle size / BC core – Dp / Dc) for these same sectors was 1.28 ± 0.07, 1.45 ± 0.16, and 1.65 ± 0.19. For W, SE and E air masses, the number fraction of BCsf ranged from 6 ± 2% to 11 ± 5% to 18 ± 10% respectively, but importantly the larger BC core sizes lead to an increased fraction of BCsf in terms of mass than number (for W–SE–E air masses, the BCsf mass fractions ranged from 16 ± 6 %–24 ± 10%–39 ± 14% respectively). An increased fraction of non-BC particles (particles that did not contain a BC core) was also observed when SF sources were more significant. The BC mass attribution by the SP2 method agreed well with the BC-AMS-PMF multiple linear regression method (BC-AMS-PMF : SP2 ratio = 1.05, r2 = 0.80) over the entire experimental period. Good agreement was found between BCsf attributed with the Aethalometer model and the SP2. However, the assumed Absorption Ångström Exponent (αwb) had to be changed according to the different air mass sectors to yield the best comparison with the SP2. This could be due to influences of fuel type or burn phase.

scholarly journals Variability in the mass absorption cross-section of black carbon (BC) aerosols is driven by BC internal mixing state at a central European background site (Melpitz, Germany) in winter

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinfeng Yuan ◽  
Robin Lewis Modini ◽  
Marco Zanatta ◽  
Andreas B. Herber ◽  
Thomas Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Coating Thickness ◽  
Absorption Cross Section ◽  
Correlation Method ◽  
Absorption Cross ◽  
Core Size ◽  
Background Site ◽  
Mass Absorption

Abstract. Properties of atmospheric black carbon (BC) particles were characterized during a field experiment at a rural background site (Melpitz, Germany) in February 2017. BC absorption at a wavelength of 870 nm was measured by a photoacoustic extinctiometer and BC physical properties (BC mass concentration, core size distribution and coating thickness) were measured by a single-particle soot photometer (SP2). Additionally, a catalytic stripper was used to intermittently remove BC coatings by alternating between ambient and thermo-denuded conditions. From these data the mass absorption cross section of BC (MACBC) and its enhancement factor (EMAC) were inferred. Two methods were applied independently to investigate the coating effect on EMAC: a correlation method (ambient MACBC vs. BC coating thickness) and a denuding method (MACBC,amb vs. MACBC,denuded). Observed EMAC values varied from 1.0 to 1.6 (lower limit from denuding method) or ~ 1.2 to 1.9 (higher limit from correlation method) with the mean coating volume fraction ranging from 54 to 78 % in the dominating mass equivalent BC core diameter range of 200–220 nm. MACBC and EMAC were strongly correlated with coating thickness of BC, while other factors were found to have a potential minor influence as well, including air mass origins (different BC sources), mixing morphology (ratio of inorganics to organics), BC core size distribution and absorption Ångström exponent (AAE). These results for ambient BC measured at Melpitz during winter show that the lensing effect caused by coatings on BC is the main driver of the variations in MACBC and EMAC, while changes in other BC particle properties such as source, BC core size or coating composition play only minor roles.

scholarly journals Size distribution and coating thickness of black carbon from the Canadian oil sands operations

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Cheng ◽  
Shao-Meng Li ◽  
Mark Gordon ◽  
Peter Liu
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Coating Thickness ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Source Area ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Mixing State ◽  
Earth’S Climate

Abstract. Black carbon (BC) plays an important role in the Earth’s climate system. However, parameterization of BC size and mixing state have not been well addressed in aerosol-climate models, introducing substantial uncertainties into the estimation of radiative forcing by BC. In this study, we focused on BC emissions from the massive oil sands (OS) industry in northern Alberta, based on an aircraft campaign conducted over the Athabasca OS region in 2013. A total of 14 flights were made over the OS source area, in which the aircraft was typically flown in a 4- or 5-sided polygon pattern along flight tracks encircling an OS facility. Another 3 flights were performed downwind of the OS source area, each of which involved at least three intercepting locations where the well-mixed OS plume was measured along flight tracks perpendicular to the wind direction. Comparable size distributions were observed for refractory black carbon (rBC) over and downwind of the OS facilities, with rBC mass median diameters (MMD) between ~ 135 and 145 nm that were characteristic of fresh urban emissions. This MMD range corresponded to rBC number median diameters (NMD) of ~ 60–70 nm, approximately 100 % higher than the NMD settings in some aerosol-climate models. The typical in- and out-of-plume segments of a flight, which had different rBC concentrations and photochemical ages, showed consistent rBC size distributions. Moreover, rBC size distributions remained unchanged at different downwind distances from the source area, suggesting that atmospheric aging would not necessarily change rBC size distribution. However, aging indeed influenced rBC mixing state. Coating thickness for rBC cores in the diameter range of 130–160 nm was nearly doubled within three hours when the OS plume was transported over a distance of 90 km from the source area.

scholarly journals Size distribution and source of black carbon aerosol in urban Beijing during winter haze episodes

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunfei Wu ◽  
Xiaojia Wang ◽  
Jun Tao ◽  
Rujin Huang ◽  
Ping Tian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Equivalent Diameter ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
A Value ◽  
Significant Linear Correlation ◽  
Mass Size ◽  
Black Carbon Aerosol

Abstract. Black carbon (BC) plays an important role in the climate and environment due to its light absorption, which is greatly dependent on its physicochemical properties including morphology, size and mixing state. The size distribution of the refractory BC (rBC) in urban Beijing during the late winter in 2014 was revealed by measurements obtained using a single particle soot photometer (SP2), when the hazes occurred frequently. By assuming void-free rBC with a density of 1.8 g cm−3, the mass of the rBC showed an approximately lognormal distribution as a function of the volume-equivalent diameter (VED), for which there was a peak diameter of 213 nm. This size distribution agreed well with those observed in other urban areas of China. Larger VED values of the rBC were observed during polluted periods than on clean days, implying an alteration in the rBC sources, as the mass-size of the rBC from a certain source varied little once it was emitted into the atmosphere. The potential source contribution functions showed that air masses from the south to east of the observation site brought a higher rBC loading with more thick coatings and larger core sizes. The mean VED of the rBC (VEDrBC) presented a significant linear correlation with the number fraction of thickly coated rBC (NFcoated); the VED of the entirely externally mixed rBC was inferred as the y-intercept of the linear regression. This VED, with a value of ~150 nm, was considered as the typical mean VED of the rBC from local traffic sources in this study. Accordingly, the contribution of the local traffic to the rBC was estimated based on reasonable assumptions. Local traffic contributed 35 to 100 % of the hourly rBC mass concentration with a mean of 59 %, during this campaign. A lower local traffic contribution was observed during polluted periods, suggesting increasing contributions of other sources (e.g., coal combustion/biomass burning) to the rBC. The heavy pollution in Beijing was greatly influenced by other sources in addition to the local traffic.

scholarly journals Black carbon physical properties and mixing state in the European megacity Paris

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 5831-5856 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Laborde ◽  
M. Crippa ◽  
T. Tritscher ◽  
Z. Jurányi ◽  
P. F. Decarlo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Coating Thickness ◽  
Traffic Emissions ◽  
Core Mass ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Mass Size ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Wet Removal

Abstract. Aerosol hygroscopicity and refractory black carbon (rBC) properties were characterised during wintertime at a suburban site in Paris, one of the biggest European cities. Hygroscopic growth factor (GF) frequency distributions, characterised by distinct modes of more-hygroscopic background aerosol and non- or slightly hygroscopic aerosol of local (or regional) origin, revealed an increase of the relative contribution of the local sources compared to the background aerosol with decreasing particle size. BC-containing particles in Paris were mainly originating from fresh traffic emissions, whereas biomass burning only gave a minor contribution. The mass size distribution of the rBC cores peaked on average at an rBC core mass equivalent diameter of DMEV ~ 150 nm. The BC-containing particles were moderately coated (coating thickness Δcoat ~ 33 nm on average for rBC cores with DMEV = 180–280 nm) and an average mass absorption coefficient (MAC) of ~ 8.6 m2 g−1 at the wavelength λ = 880 nm was observed. Different time periods were selected to investigate the properties of BC-containing particles as a function of source and air mass type. The traffic emissions were found to be non-hygroscopic (GF ≈ 1.0), and essentially all particles with a dry mobility diameter (D0) larger than D0 = 110 nm contained an rBC core. rBC from traffic emissions was further observed to be uncoated within experimental uncertainty (Δcoat ~ 2 nm ± 10 nm), to have the smallest BC core sizes (maximum of the rBC core mass size distribution at DMEV ~ 100 nm) and to have the smallest MAC (~ 7.3 m2g−1 at λ = 880 nm). The biomass burning aerosol was slightly more hygroscopic than the traffic emissions (with a distinct slightly-hygroscopic mode peaking at GF ≈ 1.1–1.2). Furthermore, only a minor fraction (≤ 10%) of the slightly-hygroscopic particles with 1.1 ≤ GF ≤ 1.2 (and D0 = 265 nm) contained a detectable rBC core. The BC-containing particles from biomass burning were found to have a medium coating thickness as well as slightly larger mean rBC core sizes and MAC values compared to traffic emissions. The aerosol observed under the influence of aged air masses and air masses from Eastern Continental Europe was dominated by a~more-hygroscopic mode peaking at GF ≈ 1.6. Most particles (95%), in the more-hygroscopic mode at D0 = 265 nm, did not contain a detectable rBC core. A significant fraction of the BC-containing particles had a substantial coating with non-refractory aerosol components. MAC values of ~ 8.8 m2g−1 and ~ 8.3 m2g−1 at λ = 880 nm and mass mean rBC core diameters of 150 nm and 200 nm were observed for the aged and continental air mass types, respectively. The reason for the larger rBC core sizes compared to the fresh emissions – transport effects or a different rBC source – remains unclear. The dominant fraction of the BC-containing particles was found to have no or very little coating with non-refractory matter. The lack of coatings is consistent with the observation that the BC-containing particles are non- or slightly-hygroscopic, which makes them poor cloud condensation nuclei. It can therefore be expected that wet removal through nucleation scavenging is inefficient for fresh BC-containing particles in urban plumes. The mixing-state-specific cloud droplet activation behaviour of BC-containing particles including the effects of atmospheric aging processes should be considered in global simulations of atmospheric BC, as the wet removal efficiency remains a major source of uncertainty in its life-cycle.

scholarly journals Modeled source apportionment of black carbon particles coated with a light-scattering shell

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aki Virkkula
Keyword(s):  
Black Carbon ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Core Size ◽  
Carbon Particles ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Measured Absorption ◽  
Absorbing Material ◽  
Fossil Fuel Emissions

Abstract. The Aethalometer model been used widely for estimating the contributions of fossil fuel emissions and biomass burning to equivalent black carbon (eBC). The calculation is based on measured absorption Ångström exponents (αabs). The interpretation αabs is ambiguous since it is well-known that it not only depends on the dominant absorber but also on the size and internal structure of the particles, core size and shell thickness. In this work the uncertainties of the Aethalometer-model-derived apparent fractions of absorption by eBC from fossil fuel and biomass burning are evaluated with a core-shell Mie model. Biomass-burning fractions (BB(%)) were calculated for pure and coated single BC particles, for lognormal unimodal and bimodal size distributions of BC cores coated with ammonium sulfate, a scattering-only material. BB(%) was very seldom 0 % even though BC was the only absorbing material in the simulations. The shape of size distribution plays an important role. Narrow size distributions result in higher αabs and BB(%) values than wide size distributions. The sensitivity of αabs and BB(%) to variations in shell volume fractions is the highest for accumulation mode particles. This is important because that is where the largest aerosol mass is. For the interpretation of absorption Ångström exponents it would be very good to measure BC size distributions and shell thicknesses together with the wavelength dependency of absorption.

scholarly journals Investigation of gaseous and particulate emissions from various marine vessel types measured on the banks of the Elbe in Northern Germany

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3603-3618 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-M. Diesch ◽  
F. Drewnick ◽  
T. Klimach ◽  
S. Borrmann
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Identification System ◽  
Particulate Emissions ◽  
Submicron Aerosol ◽  
Nucleation Mode ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Diameter Range

Abstract. Measurements of the ambient aerosol, various trace gases and meteorological quantities using a mobile laboratory (MoLa) were performed on the banks of the Lower Elbe in an emission control area (ECA) which is passed by numerous private and commercial marine vessels reaching and leaving the port of Hamburg, Germany. From 25–29 April 2011 a total of 178 vessels were probed at a distance of about 0.8–1.2 km with high temporal resolution. 139 ship emission plumes were of sufficient quality to be analyzed further and to determine emission factors (EFs). Concentrations of aerosol number and mass as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and black carbon were measured in PM1 and size distribution instruments covered the diameter range from 6 nm up to 32 μm. The chemical composition of the non-refractory submicron aerosol was measured by means of an Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (Aerodyne HR-ToF-AMS). Gas phase species analyzers monitored various trace gases (O3, SO2, NO, NO2, CO2) in the air and a weather station provided wind, precipitation, solar radiation data and other quantities. Together with ship information for each vessel obtained from Automatic Identification System (AIS) broadcasts a detailed characterization of the individual ship types and of features affecting gas and particulate emissions is provided. Particle number EFs (average 2.6e+16 # kg−1) and PM1 mass EFs (average 2.4 g kg−1) tend to increase with the fuel sulfur content. Observed PM1 composition of the vessel emissions was dominated by organic matter (72%), sulfate (22%) and black carbon (6%) while PAHs only account for 0.2% of the submicron aerosol mass. Measurements of gaseous components showed an increase of SO2 (average EF: 7.7 g kg−1) and NOx (average EF: 53 g kg−1) while O3 decreased when a ship plume reached the sampling site. The particle number size distributions of the vessels are generally characterized by a bimodal size distribution, with the nucleation mode in the 10–20 nm diameter range and a combustion aerosol mode centered at about 35 nm while particles \\textgreater 1 μm were not found. "High particle number emitters" are characterized by a dominant nucleation mode. By contrast, increased particle concentrations around 150 nm primarily occurred for "high black carbon emitters". Classifying the vessels according to their gross tonnage shows a decrease of the number, black carbon and PAH EFs while EFs of SO2, NO, NO2, NOx, AMS species (particulate organics, sulfate) and PM1 mass concentration increase with increasing gross tonnages.

scholarly journals Aerosol particle measurements at three stationary sites in the megacity of Paris during summer 2009: meteorology and air mass origin dominate aerosol particle composition and size distribution

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 933-959 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Freutel ◽  
J. Schneider ◽  
F. Drewnick ◽  
S.-L. von der Weiden-Reinmüller ◽  
M. Crippa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Air Mass Origin ◽  
Mass Concentrations

Abstract. During July 2009, a one-month measurement campaign was performed in the megacity of Paris. Amongst other measurement platforms, three stationary sites distributed over an area of 40 km in diameter in the greater Paris region enabled a detailed characterization of the aerosol particle and gas phase. Simulation results from the FLEXPART dispersion model were used to distinguish between different types of air masses sampled. It was found that the origin of air masses had a large influence on measured mass concentrations of the secondary species particulate sulphate, nitrate, ammonium, and oxygenated organic aerosol measured with the Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer in the submicron particle size range: particularly high concentrations of these species (about 4 μg m−3, 2 μg m−3, 2 μg m−3, and 7 μg m−3, respectively) were measured when aged material was advected from continental Europe, while for air masses originating from the Atlantic, much lower mass concentrations of these species were observed (about 1 μg m−3, 0.2 μg m−3, 0.4 μg m−3, and 1–3 μg m−3, respectively). For the primary emission tracers hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol, black carbon, and NOx it was found that apart from diurnal source strength variations and proximity to emission sources, local meteorology had the largest influence on measured concentrations, with higher wind speeds leading to larger dilution and therefore smaller measured concentrations. Also the shape of particle size distributions was affected by wind speed and air mass origin. Quasi-Lagrangian measurements performed under connected flow conditions between the three stationary sites were used to estimate the influence of the Paris emission plume onto its surroundings, which was found to be rather small. Rough estimates for the impact of the Paris emission plume on the suburban areas can be inferred from these measurements: Volume mixing ratios of 1–14 ppb of NOx, and upper limits for mass concentrations of about 1.5 μg m−3 of black carbon and of about 3 μg m−3 of hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol can be deduced which originate from both, local emissions and the overall Paris emission plume. The secondary aerosol particle phase species were found to be not significantly influenced by the Paris megacity, indicating their regional origin. The submicron aerosol mass concentrations of particulate sulphate, nitrate, and ammonium measured during time periods when air masses were advected from eastern central Europe were found to be similar to what has been found from other measurement campaigns in Paris and south-central France for this type of air mass origin, indicating that the results presented here are also more generally valid.

scholarly journals Black carbon physical properties and mixing state in the European megacity Paris

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 25121-25180 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Laborde ◽  
M. Crippa ◽  
T. Tritscher ◽  
Z. Jurányi ◽  
P. F. DeCarlo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Traffic Emissions ◽  
Core Mass ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Mass Size Distribution ◽  
Mass Size ◽  
A Minor

Abstract. Aerosol hygroscopicity and black carbon (BC) properties were characterised during wintertime in Paris, one of the biggest European megacities. Hygroscopic growth factor (GF) distributions, characterised by distinct modes of more-hygroscopic background aerosol and non- or slightly hygroscopic aerosol of local (or regional) origin, revealed an increase of the relative contribution of the local sources compared to the background aerosol with decreasing particle size. BC particles in Paris were mainly originating from fresh traffic emissions, whereas biomass burning was only a minor contribution. The mass size distribution of the BC cores peaked on average at a BC core mass equivalent diameter of DMEV≈150 nm. The BC particles were moderately coated (Δcoat≈30 nm on average for BC cores with DMEV =160–260 nm) and an average mass absorption coefficient (MAC) of ~8.6 m2 g−1 at the wavelength λ = 880 nm was observed. Different time periods were selected to investigate the properties of BC particles as a function of source and air mass type. The traffic emissions were found to be non-hygroscopic (GF ≈ 1.0), and essentially all particles with a dry mobility diameter larger than D0 = 110 nm contained a BC core. BC from traffic emissions was further characterised by literally no coating (Δcoat ≈2 nm), the smallest maximum of the BC core mass size distribution (DMEV≈100 nm) and the smallest MAC (~7.3 m2 g−1 at λ = 880 nm). The biomass burning aerosol was slightly more-hygroscopic than the traffic emissions (with a distinct slightly hygroscopic mode peaking at GF≈1.1–1.2). Furthermore, only a minor fraction (⩽10%) of the slightly hygroscopic particles with GF⩾1.1 (and D0 = 265 nm) contained a detectable BC core. The BC particles from biomass burning were found to have a medium coating thickness as well as slightly larger mean BC core sizes and MAC values compared to traffic emissions. The aerosol observed under the influence of aged air masses and air masses from Eastern Continental Europe was dominated by a more-hygroscopic mode peaking at GF≈1.6. Most particles (95%) with a D0 = 265 nm, in this mode, did not contain a detectable BC core. A significant fraction of the BC particles had a substantial coating with non-refractory aerosol components. MAC values of ~8.8 m2g−1 and ~8.3 m2 g−1 at λ = 880 nm and mass mean BC core diameters of 150 nm and 200 nm were observed for the aged and continental air mass types, respectively. The reason for the larger BC core sizes compared to the fresh emissions – transport effects or a different BC source – remains unclear. The dominant fraction of the BC-containing particles was found to have no or very little coating with non-refractory matter. The lack of coatings is consistent with the observation that the BC particles are non- or slightly hygroscopic, which makes them poor cloud condensation nuclei.

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