Measurement of Ambient Aerosol Composition Using an Aerosol Mass Spectrometer: New York 2001 Supersite Summer Intensive Study
Abstract
A summer field measurement campaign in Queens, New York during July 2001 was operated as part of the PM2.5 Technology Assessment and Characterization Study in New York (PMTACS-NY) Supersite program. During this study several state-of-the art aerosol instruments were deployed including an Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS, Aerodyne Research, Inc.). This AMS is designed to deliver quantitative information on mass loadings and size-resolved mass distributions of volatile and semi-volatile aerosol chemical species. AMS aerosol mass concentration measurements made during the campaign indicated significant contributions of sulfate and organic species to the total aerosol mass concentration. Sulfate, ranging from 0.05 μg/m3 for clean days to 53 μg/m3 for the most polluted period, had a median concentration of 2.6 μg/m3. The total organics mass concentration, with a median mass concentration of 2.7 μg/m3, ranged from 0.5 μg/m3 up to 29 μg/m3. In addition species-resolved size distribution measurements for sulfate, nitrate and organic aerosol particles indicate that sulfate and nitrate occur mainly internally mixed while the organic particles show a completely different size distribution, reflecting their different sources. AMS mass concentration measurements combined with total aerosol mass concentration data from a co-located TEOM are used to provide a continuous mass balance with 10-min time resolution. Diurnal patterns of absolute sulfate, nitrate and organics mass concentration as well as diurnal patterns of relative contributions of different types of organic particles are calculated using the AMS mass concentration data. Typical size distributions as well as the evolution processes of particulate sulfate size distributions are presented, measured during high background concentrations of organic particles. In addition, capabilities and limitations of the AMS instrument, as indicated by laboratory testing and evaluation studies in the laboratory and in the field will be discussed.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002AGUFM.A52C0129D
- Keywords:
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- 0305 Aerosols and particles (0345;
- 4801);
- 0394 Instruments and techniques