Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions
www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net
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10.5194/acpd-7-3859-2007
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/3859/2007/
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/3859/2007/acpd-7-3859-2007.html
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/3859/2007/acpd-7-3859-2007.pdf
3859
3899
2007-03-19
Elemental and organic carbon in PM<sub>10</sub>: a one year measurement campaign within the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme EMEP
K. E. Yttri
key@nilu.no
W. Aas
A. Bjerke
D. Ceburnis
C. Dye
L. Emblico
M. C. Facchini
C. Forster
J. E. Hanssen
H. C. Hansson
S. G. Jennings
W. Maenhaut
J. P. Putaud
K. Tørseth
Norwegian Institute for Air Research, P.O. Box 100,2027 Kjeller, Norway
Department of Experimental Physics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
CNR, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Via P. Gobetti 101 40129 Bologna, Italy
Department of Applied Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute for Nuclear Sciences, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, TP 460, Ispra (VA) 21020, Italy
In the present study, ambient aerosol (PM<sub>10</sub>) concentrations of
elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), and total carbon (TC) are
reported for 12 European rural background sites and two urban background
sites following a one-year (1 July 2002–1 July 2003) sampling campaign
within the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme, EMEP
(<a href="http://www.emep.int/">http://www.emep.int/</a>). The purpose of the campaign was to assess the
feasibility of performing EC and OC monitoring on a regular basis and to
obtain an overview of the spatial and seasonal variability on a regional
scale in Europe.
<br><br>
Analyses were performed using the thermal-optical transmission (TOT)
instrument from Sunset Lab Inc., operating according to a NIOSH derived
temperature program. The annual mean mass concentration of EC ranged
from 0.17±0.19 μg m<sup>−3</sup> (mean ± SD) at Birkenes (Norway)
to 1.83±1.32 μg m<sup>−3</sup> at Ispra (Italy). The corresponding
range for OC was 1.20±1.29 μg m<sup>−3</sup> at Mace Head (Ireland) to
7.79±6.80 μg m<sup>−3</sup> at Ispra. On average, annual
concentrations of EC, OC, and TC were three times higher for rural
background sites in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe compared to those
situated in the Northern and Western parts of Europe. Wintertime
concentrations of EC and OC were higher than those recorded during summer
for the majority of the sites. Moderate to high Pearson correlation
coefficients (r<sub><I>p</I></sub>) (0.50–0.94) were observed for EC versus OC for the
sites investigated. The lowest correlation coefficients were noted for the
three Scandinavian sites: Aspvreten (SE), Birkenes (NO), and Virolahti (FI),
and the Slovakian site Stara Lesna, and are suggested to reflect biogenic
sources, wild and prescribed fires. This suggestion is supported by the fact
that higher concentrations of OC are observed for summer compared to winter
for these sites.
<br><br>
For the rural background sites, total carbonaceous material accounted for 30±9%
of PM<sub>10</sub>, of which 27±9% could be attributed to
organic matter (OM) and 3.4±1.0% to elemental matter (EM). OM was
found to be more abundant than SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> for sites reporting both
parameters.
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