Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions
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10.5194/acpd-8-20749-2008
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/8/20749/2008/
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/8/20749/2008/acpd-8-20749-2008.html
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/8/20749/2008/acpd-8-20749-2008.pdf
20749
20798
2008-12-11
Size-resolved aerosol chemistry on Whistler Mountain, Canada with a High-Resolution Aerosol Mass Spectrometer during INTEX-B
Y. Sun
Q. Zhang
A. M. MacDonald
K. Hayden
S. M. Li
J. Liggio
P. S. K. Liu
K. G. Anlauf
W. R. Leaitch
M. Cubison
D. Worsnop
A. van Donkelaar
R. V. Martin
Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC), University at Albany, State University of New York, 251 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12203, USA
Environment Canada, Toronto, Canada
University of Colorado-Boulder, Colorado, USA
Aerodyne Research Inc., Massachusetts, USA
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
also at: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Massachusetts, USA
An Aerodyne High Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass
Spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) was deployed at the peak of Whistler
Mountain (elevation 2182 m-MSL), British Columbia, from 19
April to 16 May 2006, as part of the Intercontinental Chemical
Transport Experiment Phase B (INTEX-B) campaign. The mass
concentrations and size distributions of non-refractory
submicron particle (NR-PM<sub>1</sub>) species (i.e., sulfate,
nitrate, ammonium, chloride, and organics) were measured
in situ every 5 min. The HR-ToF-AMS results
agreed well with collocated measurements. The average
concentration of non-refractory submicron particulate matter
(NR-PM<sub>1</sub>; 1.9 μg m<sup>−3</sup>) is similar to those
observed at other remote, high elevation sites in North
America. Episodes of enhanced aerosol loadings were observed,
due to influences of regional and trans-Pacific transport of
air pollution. Organics and sulfate were the dominant species,
on average accounting for 55% and 30%, respectively, of
the NR-PM<sub>1</sub> mass. The average size distributions of
sulfate and ammonium both showed a~large accumulation mode
peaking around 500–600 nm in <i>D</i><sub>va</sub> while those of organic
aerosol (OA) and nitrate peaked at ~300 nm. The size
differences suggest that sulfate and OA were mostly present in
external mixtures from different source origins. We also
quantitatively determined the elemental composition of OA
using the high resolution mass spectra. Overall, OA at
Whistler Peak was highly oxygenated, with an average
organic-mass-to-organic-carbon ratio (OM/OC) of 2.28±0.23 and an atomic ratio of oxygen-to-carbon (O/C) of
0.83±0.17. The nominal formula for OA was
C<sub>1</sub>H<sub>1.66</sub>N<sub>0.03</sub>O<sub>0.83</sub> for the entire
study. Two significant trans-Pacific dust events originated
from Asia were observed at Whistler Peak during this
study. While both events were characterized with significant
enhancements of coarse mode particles and mineral contents,
the composition and characteristics of NR-PM<sub>1</sub> were
significantly different between them. One trans-Pacific event
occurred on 15 May 2006, during which ammonium sulfate
contributed >90% of the total NR-PM<sub>1</sub> mass. This
event was followed by a~high OA episode likely associated with
regional emissions. The trans-Pacific OA were more oxidized
and aged than the regional OA.
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