scholarly journals Investigating size-segregated sources of elemental composition of particulate matter in the South China Sea during the 2011 Vasco Cruise

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Ricardo A. Hilario ◽  
Melliza T. Cruz ◽  
Maria Obiminda L. Cambaliza ◽  
Jeffrey S. Reid ◽  
Peng Xian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
South China Sea ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
South China ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Sea Spray ◽  
Soil Dust ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
Fine Mode

Abstract. The South China Sea/West Philippine Sea (SCS/WPS) is a receptor of various natural and anthropogenic aerosol species from throughout greater Asia. In combination with its archipelagic/peninsular terrain and strong Asian monsoon climate, the SCS/WPS hosts one of the most complex aerosol-meteorological systems in the world. However, aside from the well-known biomass burning emissions from Indonesia and Borneo, the current understanding of aerosol sources is limited-especially in remote marine environments. In September 2011, a 2-week research cruise was conducted near Palawan, Philippines to sample the remote SCS/WPS environment. Size-segregated aerosol data was collected using a Davis Rotating-drum Unit size-cut Monitor sampler and analyzed for concentrations of 28 selected elements. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) was performed separately on the coarse, fine, and ultrafine size ranges to determine possible sources and their contributions to the total particulate matter mass. Additionally, size distribution plots, time series plots, back trajectories and satellite data were used in interpreting factors. Using tracers of various sources, a linear regression analysis and correlation matrices showed the presence of soil dust and sea spray in the coarse mode, biomass burning in the fine mode and oil combustion in the ultrafine mode. Mass distributions showed elevated aerosol concentrations towards the end of the sampling period which coincided with a shift of air mass back trajectories to Southern Kalimantan. Covariance between coarse and fine mode sources were observed. The PMF analysis resolved five sources across the three size ranges: biomass burning, oil combustion, soil dust, sea spray and a fly ash factor largely composed of heavy metals. The agreement between the PMF and the linear regression analyses suggests the robustness of the PMF solution. While biomass burning is indeed a key source of aerosol, the study shows the presence of other important sources in the SCS/WPS. Understanding these sources is key to characterizing the chemical profile of the SCS/WPS and, by extension, developing our understanding of aerosol-cloud behavior in the region.

scholarly journals Investigating size-segregated sources of elemental composition of particulate matter in the South China Sea during the 2011 <i>Vasco</i> cruise

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 1255-1276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Ricardo A. Hilario ◽  
Melliza T. Cruz ◽  
Maria Obiminda L. Cambaliza ◽  
Jeffrey S. Reid ◽  
Peng Xian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Fly Ash ◽  
South China Sea ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
South China ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Sea Spray ◽  
Soil Dust ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
Aerosol Sources

Abstract. The South China Sea (SCS) is a receptor of numerous natural and anthropogenic aerosol species from throughout greater Asia. A combination of several developing countries, archipelagic and peninsular terrain, a strong Asian monsoon climate, and a host of multi-scale meteorological phenomena make the SCS one of the most complex aerosol–meteorological systems in the world. However, aside from the well-known biomass burning emissions from Indonesia and Borneo, the current understanding of aerosol sources is limited, especially in remote marine environments. In September 2011, a 2-week research cruise was conducted near Palawan, Philippines, to sample the remote SCS environment. Size-segregated aerosol data were collected using a Davis Rotating Uniform size-cut Monitor (DRUM) sampler and analyzed for concentrations of 28 elements measured via X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was performed separately on the coarse, fine, and ultrafine size ranges to determine possible sources and their contributions to the total elemental particulate matter mass. The PMF analysis resolved six sources across the three size ranges: biomass burning, oil combustion, soil dust, a crustal–marine mixed source, sea spray, and fly ash. Additionally, size distribution plots, time series plots, back trajectories and satellite data were used in interpreting factors. The multi-technique source apportionment revealed the presence of biogenic sources such as soil dust, sea spray, and a crustal–marine mixed source. Anthropogenic sources were also identified: biomass burning, oil combustion, and fly ash. Mass size distributions showed elevated aerosol concentrations towards the end of the sampling period, which coincided with a shift of air mass back trajectories to southern Kalimantan. Covariance between coarse-mode soil dust and fine-mode biomass burning aerosols were observed. Agreement between the PMF and the linear regression analyses indicates that the PMF solution is robust. While biomass burning is indeed a key source of aerosol, this study shows the presence of other important sources in the SCS. Identifying these sources is not only key for characterizing the chemical profile of the SCS but, by improving our picture of aerosol sources in the region, also a step forward in developing our understanding of aerosol–meteorology feedbacks in this complex environment.

scholarly journals Maritime Aerosol Optical and Microphysical Properties in the South China Sea Under Multi-source Influence

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi Zhang ◽  
Hua Xu ◽  
Zhengqiang Li ◽  
Yisong Xie ◽  
Donghui Li
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Volume Concentration ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Skewed Distribution ◽  
The South ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fine Mode

AbstractThe South China Sea hosts a wide range of aerosol pollutants with the uneven development of socio-economic and complicated meteorology system. To fill the gap of the maritime aerosol characteristics over the sea, we selected the multi-year ground-based measurements of Taiping Site and Dongsha Site to investigate the optical and microphysical properties. In Taiping, the vast majority of aerosol optical depths (AODs) are less than 0.2, but that of Dongsha shows the wider distribution of AODs from 0 to 0.6. Angstrom Exponent frequency distribution in Taiping peaks at the range of 0.75–1.25 but that has the left-skewed distribution in Taiping Island. Moreover, there is a variation in the coarse-mode volume concentration in Taiping Island but less variation in the fine mode. The seasonal maritime aerosol properties of Taiping and Dongsha have been analyzed that can be employed as a maritime look up table (LUT) kernel in coupled atmospheric retrieval and correction algorithms.

Size distributions and source function of sea spray aerosol over the South China Sea

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 569-576
Author(s):  
Yingjia Chu ◽  
Lifang Sheng ◽  
Qian Liu ◽  
Dongliang Zhao ◽  
Nan Jia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Source Function ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Sea Spray ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
The South ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Sea Spray Aerosol

scholarly journals Atmospheric aerosol compositions over the South China Sea: temporal variability and source apportionment

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 3199-3214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong-Wei Xiao ◽  
Hua-Yun Xiao ◽  
Li Luo ◽  
Chun-Yan Shen ◽  
Ai-Min Long ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
Source Apportionment ◽  
South China ◽  
Major Ions ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
The South ◽  
Annual Average ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
China Sea

Abstract. In order to evaluate impacts of different source emission on marine atmospheric particles over the South China Sea (SCS), major inorganic ionic concentrations (Na+, Cl−, SO42−, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, NH4+ and NO3−) were determined in total suspended particulates (TSPs) at Yongxing Island, from March 2014 to February 2015. The annual average concentration of TSPs was 89.6 ± 68.0 µg m−3, with 114.7 ± 82.1, 60.4 ± 27.0 and 59.5 ± 25.6 µg m−3 in cool, warm and transition seasons, respectively. Cl− had the highest concentration, with an annual average of 7.73 ± 5.99 µg m−3, followed by SO42− (5.54 ± 3.65 µg m−3), Na+ (4.00 ± 1.88 µg m−3), Ca2+ (2.15 ± 1.54 µg m−3), NO3− (1.95 ± 1.34 µg m−3), Mg2+ (0.44 ± 0.33 µg m−3), K+ (0.33 ± 0.22 µg m−3) and NH4+ (0.07 ± 0.07 µg m−3). Concentrations of TSPs and the major ions showed seasonal variations, which were higher in the cool season and lower in the warm and transition seasons. Factors of influence were wind speed, temperature, relatively humidity, rain and air mass source region. Back trajectories, concentration-weighted trajectories (CWTs), and positive matrix factorization (PMF) of chemical compositions were analyzed for source apportionment, source contribution and spatiotemporal variation of major ions. Back trajectories and CWTs showed that air masses at Yongxing Island were mainly from the northeast, southwest and southeast in the cool, warm and transition seasons, respectively. The PMF results showed that 77.4 % of Na+ and 99.3 % of Cl− were from sea salt; 60.5 % of NH4+ was from oceanic emission. Anthropogenic sources were very important for atmospheric aerosols over the island. Secondary inorganic aerosol of SO2 and NOx from fossil fuel combustion (especially coal in Chinese coastal regions) was the dominant source of NO3− (69.5 %) and SO42− (57.5 %).

scholarly journals Sources, solubility, and acid processing of aerosol iron and phosphorous over the South China Sea: East Asian dust and pollution outflows vs. Southeast Asian biomass burning

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 21433-21472 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.-C. Hsu ◽  
G.-C. Gong ◽  
F.-K. Shiah ◽  
C.-C. Hung ◽  
S.-J. Kao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
South China ◽  
Nutrient Dynamics ◽  
Southeast Asian ◽  
Asian Dust ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Acid Processing

Abstract. Iron and phosphorous are essential to marine microorganisms in vast regions in oceans worldwide. Atmospheric inputs are important allochthonous sources of Fe and P. The variability in airborne Fe deposition is hypothesized to serve an important function in previous glacial–interglacial cycles, contributing to the variability in atmospheric CO2 and ultimately the climate. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the mobilization of airborne Fe and P from insoluble to soluble forms is critical to evaluate the biogeochemical effects of these elements. In this study, we present a robust power-law correlation between fractional Fe solubility and non-sea-salt-sulfate / Total-Fe (nss-sulfate / FeT) molar ratio independent of distinct sources of airborne Fe of natural and/or anthropogenic origins over the South China Sea. This area receives Asian dust and pollution outflows and Southeast Asian biomass burning. This correlation is also valid for nitrate and total acids, demonstrating the significance of acid processing in enhancing Fe mobilization. Such correlations are also found for P, yet source dependent. These relationships serve as straightforward parameters that can be directly incorporated into available atmosphere–ocean coupling models that facilitate the assessment of Fe and P fertilization effects. Although biomass burning activity may supply Fe to the bioavailable Fe pool, pyrogenic soils are possibly the main contributors, not the burned plants. This finding warrants a multidisciplinary investigation that integrates atmospheric observations with the resulting biogeochemistry in the South China Sea, which is influenced by atmospheric forcings and nutrient dynamics with monsoons.

scholarly journals Atmospheric aerosol compositions over the South China Sea: Temporal variability and source apportionment

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong-Wei Xiao ◽  
Hua-Yun Xiao ◽  
Li Luo ◽  
Chun-Yan Shen ◽  
Ai-Min Long ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
Source Apportionment ◽  
South China ◽  
Major Ions ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
Annual Average ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
China Sea

Abstract. Major inorganic chemical ionic concentrations (Na+, Cl−, SO42−, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, NH4+, NO3−) were determined in total suspended particulates (TSP) at Yongxing Island in the South China Sea (SCS), from March 2014 to February 2015. The annual average concentration of TSP was 89.6 ± 68.0 μg/m3, with 114.7 ± 82.1, 60.4 ± 27.0, and 59.5 ± 25.6 μg/m3 in cool, warm, and transition seasons, respectively. Cl− had the highest concentration, with an annual average of 7.73 ± 5.99 μg/m3, followed by SO42− (5.54 ± 3.65 μg/m3), Na+ (4.00 ± 1.88 μg/m3), Ca2+ (2.15 ± 1.54 μg/m3), NO3− (1.95 ± 1.34 μg/m3), Mg2+ (0.44 ± 0.33 μg/m3), K+ (0.33 ± 0.22 μg/m3), and NH4+ (0.07 ± 0.07 μg/m3). Concentrations of TSP and the major ions showed seasonal variations, higher in the cool season and lower in the warm and transition seasons, which were influenced by wind speed, temperature, relatively humidity, rain, and air masses. Back trajectories, concentration weighted trajectories (CWT), and positive matrix factorization (PMF) of chemical compositions were analyzed for source apportionment, source contribution, and spatio-temporal variation of major ions. Back trajectories and CWTs showed that air masses at Yongxing Island were mainly from the northeast, southwest, and southeast in the cool, warm, and transition seasons, respectively. Na+ and Cl− were mainly from sea salt, which made up 74 % and 82 %, respectively. Asian dust contributed 50 % of Ca2+ to the marine aerosols. Anthropogenic sources were very important for atmospheric aerosols over the island. Fossil fuel combustion (especially coal in Chinese coastal regions) was the important sources of NO3− (56 %) and SO42− (22 %). Biomass burning in Asia accounted for 41 % of K+. 69 % of NH4+ and 38 % of SO42− were of marine biogenic sources.

scholarly journals Aerosol meteorology and Philippine receptor observations of Maritime Continent aerosol emissions for the 2012 7SEAS southwest monsoon intensive study

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Reid ◽  
Nofel D. Lagrosas ◽  
Haflidi H. Jonsson ◽  
Elizabeth A. Reid ◽  
Samuel A. Atwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
South China ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Southwest Monsoon ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Maritime Continent ◽  
Squall Lines

Abstract. The largest 7 Southeast Asian Studies (7-SEAS) operations period within the Maritime Continent occurred in the 2012 August–September biomass burning season. Included where an enhanced deployment of Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sun photometers, of multiple lidars, and of a Singapore supersite. Simultaneously, a ship was dispatched to the Palawan Archipelago and Sulu Sea of the Philippines for September 2012 to observe transported smoke and pollution as it entered the southwest monsoon monsoonal trough. Here we describe the nature of the overall 2012 southwest monsoon biomass burning season, but focus on the findings of the research cruise and the aerosol meteorology of this convectively active region. This 2012 cruise followed a 2 week cruise in 2011, and was in part consistent with the findings of that cruise for how smoke emission and transport relate to monsoonal flows, the propagation of the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO), tropical cyclones, and covariance between smoke transport events and the atmosphere’s thermodynamic structure. Aerosol observations in the 2011 cruise also highlighted the importance of squall lines and cold pools as they propagate across the South China Sea, scavenging aerosol particles in their path. For 2012, the cruise experienced differing environments. The monsoonal flow direction was perturbed by easterly waves, leading at times to total flow reversal in the South China Sea. Two category 5 typhoons just east of the Philippines also modulated flow patterns and convection. Whereas in 2011 large synoptic scale aerosol events transported high concentrations of smoke into the Philippines over days, in 2012, measured aerosol events exhibited a much more short term variation, sometimes only over 3–12 hours. Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System (NAAPS) simulations captured longer wavelength aerosol events quite well, but largely failed to capture the timing in high frequency phenomena. Also observed were nucleation events in cleaner and polluted conditions, as well as in urban plumes. Combined, observations indicate pockets of high particle counts are not uncommon in the region. Perhaps most interestingly, several cases of squall lines heralding major aerosol events were observed, as opposed to the previous observations in 2011 of these lines largely scavenging aerosol particles from the marine boundary layer. We hypothesize that these phenomena may originate from weakly forced convection ahead of polluted land breeze fronts caught in strong monsoonal flows. Ultimately, the research findings of the 2012 cruise nicely complement the narrative started by the 2011 research cruise, and point to the importance of small scale phenomena such as sea breezes and squall lines embedded in the large scale monsoonal flow patterns in dominating aerosol lifecycle and potentially effects. “Pure” biomass burning plumes are relatively rare and are usually mixed with significant amounts of anthropogenic pollution.

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