Regional air quality in Leipzig, Germany: detailed source apportionment of size-resolved aerosol particles and comparison with the year 2000

2016 ◽  
Vol 189 ◽  
pp. 291-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. van Pinxteren ◽  
K. W. Fomba ◽  
G. Spindler ◽  
K. Müller ◽  
L. Poulain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Source Apportionment ◽  
Coal Combustion ◽  
Elemental Carbon ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Biomass Combustion ◽  
Coarse Particles ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Accumulation Mode ◽  
Secondary Formation ◽  
Year 2000

A detailed source apportionment of size-resolved aerosol particles in the area of Leipzig, Germany, was performed. Sampling took place at four sites (traffic, traffic/residential, urban background, regional background) in parallel during summer 2013 and the winters 2013/14/15. Twenty-one samples were taken per season with a 5-stage Berner impactor and analysed for particulate mass, inorganic ions, organic and elemental carbon, water-soluble organic carbon, trace metals, and a wide range of organic species. The compositional data were used to estimate source contributions to particulate matter (PM) in quasi-ultrafine (up to 140 nm), accumulation mode, and coarse size ranges using Positive Matrix Factorisation (PMF) receptor modelling. Traffic (exhaust and general traffic emissions), coal combustion, biomass combustion, photochemistry, general secondary formation, cooking, fungal spores, urban dust, fresh sea/road salt, and aged sea salt were all found to contribute to different extents to observed PM concentrations. PMF derived estimates agreed reasonably with estimates from established macrotracer approaches. Quasi-ultrafine PM originated mainly from traffic (20–50%) and photochemistry (30–50%) in summer, while it was dominated by solid fuel (mainly biomass) combustion in winter (50–70%). Tentatively identified cooking aerosol contributed up to 36% on average at the residential site. For accumulation mode particles, two secondary sources typically contributed 40–90% to particle mass. In winter, biomass and coal combustion contributions were up to ca. 25% and 45%, respectively. Main sources of coarse particles were diverse and included nearly all PMF-resolved ones depending on season and air mass origin. For PM10, traffic (typically 20–40% at kerbside sites), secondary formation (30–60%), biomass combustion (10–15% in winter), and coal combustion (30–40% in winter with eastern air mass inflow) were the main quantified sources. At the residential site, contributions from biomass combustion derived up to 60% from local emissions. Coal combustion as a significant source was only present during eastern air mass inflow and showed very similar concentrations at all sites, indicating the importance of trans-boundary air pollution transport in the study area. Overall, nearly half of the PM10 mass was attributed to urban sources by a simple subtractive approach with highest reduction potentials of up to 80% for local (urban) mitigation measures in ultrafine and coarse particles. Local increments of elemental carbon have decreased by about 50% as compared to the year 2000, corroborating results from a former study on the positive effects of a low emission zone, implemented in Leipzig in 2011.

scholarly journals Source apportionment of carbonaceous aerosol in southern Sweden

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 11387-11400 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Genberg ◽  
M. Hyder ◽  
K. Stenström ◽  
R. Bergström ◽  
D. Simpson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Source Apportionment ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Elemental Carbon ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Carbonaceous Aerosol ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Biomass Combustion ◽  
Southern Sweden

Abstract. A one-year study was performed at the Vavihill background station in southern Sweden to estimate the anthropogenic contribution to the carbonaceous aerosol. Weekly samples of the particulate matter PM10 were collected on quartz filters, and the amounts of organic carbon, elemental carbon, radiocarbon (14C) and levoglucosan were measured. This approach enabled source apportionment of the total carbon in the PM10 fraction using the concentration ratios of the sources. The sources considered in this study were emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels and biomass, as well as biogenic sources. During the summer, the carbonaceous aerosol mass was dominated by compounds of biogenic origin (80%), which are associated with biogenic primary and secondary organic aerosols. During the winter months, biomass combustion (32%) and fossil fuel combustion (28%) were the main contributors to the carbonaceous aerosol. Elemental carbon concentrations in winter were about twice as large as during summer, and can be attributed to biomass combustion, probably from domestic wood burning. The contribution of fossil fuels to elemental carbon was stable throughout the year, although the fossil contribution to organic carbon increased during the winter. Thus, the organic aerosol originated mainly from natural sources during the summer and from anthropogenic sources during the winter. The result of this source apportionment was compared with results from the EMEP MSC-W chemical transport model. The model and measurements were generally consistent for total atmospheric organic carbon, however, the contribution of the sources varied substantially. E.g. the biomass burning contributions of OC were underestimated by the model by a factor of 2.2 compared to the measurements.

scholarly journals Source apportionment of carbonaceous aerosol in southern Sweden

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 13575-13616 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Genberg ◽  
M. Hyder ◽  
K. Stenström ◽  
R. Bergström ◽  
D. Simpson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Source Apportionment ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Elemental Carbon ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Carbonaceous Aerosol ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Biomass Combustion ◽  
Southern Sweden ◽  
One Year

Abstract. A one-year study was performed at the Vavihill background station in southern Sweden to estimate the anthropogenic contribution to the carbonaceous aerosol. Weekly samples of the particulate matter PM10 were collected on quartz filters, and the amounts of organic carbon, elemental carbon, radiocarbon (14C) and levoglucosan were measured. This approach enabled source apportionment of the total carbon in the PM10 fraction using the concentration ratios of the sources. The sources considered in this study were emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels and biomass, as well as biogenic sources. During the summer, the carbonaceous aerosol mass was dominated by compounds of biogenic origin (82 %), which are associated with biogenic primary and secondary organic aerosols. During the winter months, biomass combustion (38 %) and fossil fuel combustion (33 %) were the main contributors to the carbonaceous aerosol. Elemental carbon concentrations in winter were about twice as large as during summer, and can be attributed to biomass combustion, probably from domestic wood burning. The contribution of fossil fuels to elemental carbon was stable throughout the year, although the fossil contribution to organic carbon increased during the winter. Thus, the organic aerosol originated mainly from natural sources during the summer and from anthropogenic sources during the winter. The result of this source apportionment was compared with results from the EMEP model. The model and measurements were generally consistent for total atmospheric organic carbon, however, the contribution of the sources varied substantially. E.g. the biomass burning contributions of OC were underestimated by the model by a factor of 8.2 compared to the measurements.

scholarly journals Towards parametrising atmospheric concentrations of ice nucleating particles active at moderate supercooling

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Mignani ◽  
Jörg Wieder ◽  
Michael A. Sprenger ◽  
Zamin A. Kanji ◽  
Jan Henneberger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Ice Formation ◽  
Coarse Particles ◽  
Cloud Droplets ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Atmospheric Concentrations ◽  
Cloud Top Temperature

Abstract. A small fraction of freezing cloud droplets probably initiates much of the precipitation above continents. Only a minute fraction of aerosol particles, so-called ice nucleating particles (INPs), can trigger initial ice formation at −15 °C, a cloud-top temperature frequently associated with snowfall. We found at a mountain top site in the Swiss Alps that concentrations of INPs active at −15 °C are different functions of coarse (> 2 μm) aerosol particle concentrations, depending on whether an air mass is precipitating, non-precipitating, or carrying Saharan dust and non-precipitating. Consequently, we suggest that a parameterisation at moderate supercooling should consider coarse particles in combination with air mass differentiation.

scholarly journals Towards parameterising atmospheric concentrations of ice-nucleating particles active at moderate supercooling

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 657-664
Author(s):  
Claudia Mignani ◽  
Jörg Wieder ◽  
Michael A. Sprenger ◽  
Zamin A. Kanji ◽  
Jan Henneberger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Ice Formation ◽  
Coarse Particles ◽  
Substantial Fraction ◽  
Cloud Droplets ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Atmospheric Concentrations

Abstract. A small fraction of freezing cloud droplets probably initiates much of the precipitation above continents. Only a minute fraction of aerosol particles, so-called ice-nucleating particles (INPs), can trigger initial ice formation at −15 ∘C, at which cloud-top temperatures are frequently associated with snowfall. At a mountaintop site in the Swiss Alps, we found that concentrations of INPs active at −15 ∘C can be parameterised by different functions of coarse (> 2 µm) aerosol particle concentrations, depending on whether an air mass is (a) precipitating, (b) non-precipitating, or (c) carrying a substantial fraction of dust particles while non-precipitating. Consequently, we suggest that a parameterisation at moderate supercooling should consider coarse particles in combination with air mass differentiation.

Source apportionment of aerosol particles near a steel plant by electron microscopy

2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Ebert ◽  
Dörthe Müller-Ebert ◽  
Nathalie Benker ◽  
Stephan Weinbruch
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Source Apportionment ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Steel Plant

scholarly journals Morphological, chemical and optical absorbing characterization of aerosols in the urban atmosphere of Valladolid

2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 2739-2748 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mogo ◽  
V. E. Cachorro ◽  
A. M. de Frutos
Keyword(s):  
Mass Fraction ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Cascade Impactor ◽  
Urban Atmosphere ◽  
Coarse Particles ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Illumination System ◽  
Inverse Power Law

Abstract. Samples of atmospheric aerosol particles were collected in Valladolid, Spain, during the winter of 2003-2004. The measurements were made with a Dekati PM10 cascade impactor with four size stages: greater than 10 µm, between 2.5 to 10 µm, 1 to 2.5 µm and less than 1 µm. The size and shape of the particles were analyzed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and elemental analysis was done with an energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX). We present an evaluation by size, shape and composition of the major particulate species in the Valladolid urban atmosphere. The total aerosol concentration is very variable, ranging from 39.86 µg·m-3 to 184.88 µg·m-3 with the coarse particles as the dominant mass fraction. Emphasis was given to fine particles (<1 µm), for which the visible (400 nm to 650 nm) light absorption coefficients were measured using the integrating plate technique. We have made some enhancements in the illumination system of this measurement system. The absorption coefficient, σa, is highly variable and ranges from 7.33×10-6 m-1 to 1.01×10-4 m-1 at a wavelength of 550 nm. There is an inverse power law relationship between σa and wavelength, with an average exponent of -0.8.

The rain induced gamma-radiation dose rate enhancement at Järvselja SMEAR station

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Urmas Hõrrak ◽  
Xuemeng Chen ◽  
Kristo Hõrrak ◽  
Uko Rand ◽  
Kaupo Komsaare ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Dose ◽  
Gamma Radiation ◽  
Dose Rate ◽  
Atmospheric Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Radiation Dose Rate ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Rate Enhancement ◽  
Gamma Radiation Dose

&lt;p&gt;The SMEAR Estonia station (58.277663 N, 27.308266 E, 36 m a.s.l.) was established in south-east of Estonia at the J&amp;#228;rvselja Experimental Forestry in 2012 to investigate the atmosphere-biosphere interactions and atmospheric aerosol formation and growth.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In summer 2019, the gamma-radiation monitor GammaTRACER XL2-3 (Saphymo GmbH) was set up at J&amp;#228;rvselja station and the rain sensor DRD11A (Vaisala Oyj) in autumn 2019. These devices enable to measure the gamma-radiation dose rate and precipitation intensity, which affect the ionization rate of atmospheric air close to ground, with high accuracy and time resolution, and complement our measurement system of atmospheric ions and aerosol particles.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The gamma-radiation dose rate measurements at about 1.2 m above the ground reveled on relatively steady background about 70 nSv/h occasional events with increase up to about 110 nSv/h, which correlated well with rainfall intensity. Commonly such events last 3-4 hours, but in specific meteorological situation with continuous long-lasting rain and air mass movement from southerly directions the effect can last 2-3 days, resulting in gradual increase in gamma-radiation dose rate level during about 24 h.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Such a phenomenon is known to occur due to wet deposition of radioactive aerosol particles during rain, namely due to the radon (&lt;sup&gt;222&lt;/sup&gt; Rn) short-lived daughter progeny products (Po-218, Pb-214, Bi-214) attached to atmospheric aerosol particles. The radon (&lt;sup&gt;222&lt;/sup&gt; Rn) daughter progeny involvement is confirmed by simultaneous gamma-spectrometric measurements with SARA AGS711F (Envinet GmbH) at T&amp;#245;ravere station (58&amp;#176; 15' 52,9&quot; N, 26&amp;#176; 27' 42,1&quot;, 72 m), located about 50.3 km west from the J&amp;#228;rvselja SMEAR station. The gamma dose rates showed very similar temporal behavior when both stations were affected by the same air mass with precipitation zone passing over the stations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To our best knowledge, the details of rain-induced enhancement of gamma-radiation dose rate and atmospheric processes behind the phenomenon are not well known and are worth future investigations. The events of rain induced gamma-radiation dose rate enhancement at J&amp;#228;rvselja SMEAR and T&amp;#245;ravere station are analyzed and discussed in more detail in the presentation and the spatial representativity of the phenomenon is estimated based on the gamma-radiation monitoring network data of Estonian Early Warning System.&lt;/p&gt;

The Changes of PM2.5, BC, Elements and Pollution Sources Using Nuclear Technology in Xinzhen, Beijing Over the Past Decade

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junkai Yang ◽  
Yonggang Yao ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Yangmei Zhang ◽  
Caijin Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coal Combustion ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Waste Incineration ◽  
Pollution Sources ◽  
Biomass Combustion ◽  
Combustion Source ◽  
Sources Of Pollution ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Coal Boiler ◽  
Autumn And Winter

Abstract The concentrations of PM2.5, black carbon (BC), elements as well as sources of pollution in Beijing from 2003 to 2018 were investigated. The results show that the concentrations of PM2.5 and BC had similar annual and seasonal trends, especially in autumn-winter, which with declining trends in recent years. The proportion of BC in PM2.5 reduced from 13% in 2013(max) to 8.5% in 2018(min), indicating the reducing measure of replacing coal boiler with gas boilers worked well. In this study, annual trends of 15 elements were also discussed, it is found that the concentrations of S, K, Mn, Ca, Pb, Cu, Mn and Fe displayed remarkable decrease these years. Br, Zn and Cl was growing overall and Cl was more concentrated in PM2.5 in autumn and winter. Moreover, the In detected by NAA with high sensitivity may be a new and crucial fingerprint element associated with coal combustion, industry emission or biomass combustion because of correlation with BC, Na, K, Cu and halogen elements well. Finally, 6-factor solution was identified during 2007 and 2016-2017 by EPA PMF, and the proportions of some pollution sources changed a lot in PM2.5. Soil management in north China reduced the soil and dust source by 9.2%; The contribution of Industry-S or secondary S showed decrease from 27.5% to 22.5% due to industries relocating , gasoline with sulfur optimization and coal burning restriction; Banning straw burning and waste incineration in 2007 kept biomass and waste combustion out gradually. However, initial stage of some policies maybe the main reasons for a small increase of coal combustion source despite some steps taken.

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