PM sources in a highly industrialised area in the process of implementing PM abatement technology. Quantification and evolution

Principal component analysis (PCA) coupled with a multilinear regression analysis (MLRA) was applied to PM(10) speciation data series (2002-2005) from four sampling sites in a highly industrialised area (ceramic production) in the process of implementing emission abatement technology. Five common factors with similar chemical profiles were identified at all the sites: mineral, regional background (influenced by the industrial estate located on the coast: an oil refinery and a power plant), sea spray, industrial 1 (manufacture and use of glaze components, including frit fusion) and road traffic. The contribution of the regional background differs slightly from site to site. The mineral factor, attributed to the sum of several sources (mainly the ceramic industry, but also with minor contributions from soil resuspension and African dust outbreaks) contributes between 9 and 11 microg m(-3) at all the sites. Source industrial 1 entails an increase in PM(10) levels between 4 and 5 microg m(-3) at the urban sites and 2 microg m(-3) at the suburban background site. However, after 2004, this source contributed less than 2 microg m(-3) at most sites, whereas the remaining sources did not show an upward or downward trend along the study period. This gradual decrease in the contribution of source industrial 1 coincides with the implementation of PM abatement technology in the frit fusion kilns of the area. This relationship enables us to assess the efficiency of the implementation of environmental technologies in terms of their impact on air quality.     

Validation of atmospheric aerosols parallel sampling in a multifold device

In this work, particulate matter was collected using an active sampling system consisting of a PM₁₀ (<10 μm) inlet coupled to a multifold device containing six channels, connected to a vacuum pump. Each channel was equipped with a filter holder fitted with adequately chosen filters. The system was fixed on a metallic structure, which was placed on the roof of the laboratory building, at the Faculty of Sciences, in Lisbon. Sampling took place under flow-controlled conditions. Aerosols were extracted from the filters with water, in defined conditions, and the water-soluble fraction was quantified by ion chromatography (IC) for the determination of inorganic anions (Cl^?, NO₃ ^? and SO₄ ^2?). Equivalent sampling through the various channels was validated. Validation was based on the metrological compatibility of the content results for the various filters. Ion masses are metrologically equivalent when their absolute difference is smaller than the respective expanded uncertainty. When this condition is verified, the studied multifold device produces equivalent samples.     

Land-cover changes in an urban lake watershed in a mega-city, Central China

Urbanization can exert a profound influence on land covers and landscape characteristics. In this study, we characterize the impact of urbanization on land cover and lacustrine landscape and their consequences in a large urban lake watershed, Donghu Lake watershed (the largest urban lake in China), Central China, by using Landsat TM satellite images of three periods of 1987, 1993 and 1999 and ground-based information. We grouped the land covers into six categories: water body, vegetable land, forested land, shrub-grass land, open area and urban land, and calculated patch-related landscape indices to analyze the effects of urbanization on landscape features. We overlaid the land cover maps of the three periods to track the land cover change processes. The results indicated that urban land continuously expanded from 9.1% of the total watershed area in 1987, to 19.4% in 1993, and to 29.6% in 1999. The vegetable land increased from 7.0% in 1987, 11.9% in 1993, to 13.9% in 1999 to sustain the demands of vegetable for increased urban population. Concurrently, continuous reduction of other land cover types occurred between 1987 and 1999: water body decreased from 30.4% to 23.8%, and forested land from 33.6% to 24.3%. We found that the expansion of urban land has at least in part caused a decrease in relatively wild habitats, such as urban forest and lake water area. These alterations had resulted in significant negative environmental consequences, including decline of lakes, deterioration of water and air quality, and loss of biodiversity.     

Characteristics and sources of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Shanghai, China

A field campaign was conducted to measure and analyze 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in six major zones in the city of Shanghai, P.R. China from August 2006 to April 2007. Ambient air samples were collected seasonally using passive air samplers, and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy was used in this field campaign. The results showed that there was a sequence of 13 PAHs at Phen > FA > Pyr > Chr > Fl > An > BaA > BbFA > BghiP > IcdP > BkFA > BaP > DahA and the sum of these PAHs is 36.01 ± 10.85 ng/m³ in gas phase. FL, Phen, FA, Pyr, and Chr were the dominant PAHs in gas phase in the city. They contributed 90% of total PAHs in the gas phase. Proportion of measured PAHs with three, four, five, and six rings to total PAHs was 53%, 42%, 3%, and 2%, respectively. The highest concentration of ΣPAHs (the sum of 13 PAHs) occurred in the wintertime and the lowest was in the summer. This investigation suggested that traffic, wood combustion, and metal scrap burn emissions were dominant sources of the concentrations of PAHs in six city zones compared with coal burning and industry emissions. Further, the traffic emission sources of PAHs in the city were attributed mostly to gasoline-powered vehicles compared with diesel-powered vehicles. It was revealed that the seasonal changes in PAHs in the city depended on different source types. Metal scrap burn was found to be the major source of PAHs during the autumn, while the PAH levels in the atmosphere for winter and spring seasons were mainly influenced by wood and biomass combustion. Comparisons of PAHs among different city zones and with several other cities worldwide were also made and discussed.     

Elemental and individual particle analysis of atmospheric aerosols from high Himalayas

Atmospheric aerosols were collected during the scientific expedition to Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) in May–June, 2005. The elemental concentrations of the aerosols were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This yielded data for the concentration of 14 elements: Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb. The mean elemental concentrations were generally comparable with those from central Asia and the Arctic, while much higher than those from Antarctic. Size, morphology, and chemical composition of 900 individual aerosol particles were determined by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Based on morphology and elemental composition, the particles were clustered into eight groups: soot (8%), tar ball (3%), alumosilicates/silica (55%), calcium sulfate (16%), Ca/Mg carbonate (2%), Fe/Ti-rich particles (3%), Pb-rich particles (1%), and biological particles (12%). The sampling site, located at 6,520 m in the Himalayas, is particularly remote and located at high altitude. Nonetheless, high aerosol enrichment factors for copper, chromium, lead, nickel, vanadium, and zinc all suggest the influence of long-range transported pollution, while enrichment in calcium and the presence of alumino-silicates in individual particle analyses indicates a distinct mineral dust influence. The backward air mass trajectories showed that the northwestern part of India may contribute to the atmospheric aerosol in the central high Himalayas.     

Chemical compositions and sources of atmospheric PM10 in heating, non-heating and sand periods at a coal-based city in northeastern China

Mass concentrations and chemical components (18 elements, 9 ions, organic carbon [OC] and elemental carbon [EC]) in atmospheric PM(10) were measured at five sites in Fushun during heating, non-heating and sand periods in 2006-2007. PM(10) mass concentrations varied from 62.0 to 226.3 μg m(-3), with 21% of the total samples' mass concentrations exceeding the Chinese national secondary standard value of 150 μg m(-3), mainly concentrated in heating and sand periods. Crustal elements, trace elements, water-soluble ions, OC and EC represented 20-47%, 2-9%, 13-34%, 15-34% and 13-25% of the particulate matter mass concentrations, respectively. OC and crustal elements exhibited the highest mass percentages, at 27-34% and 30-47% during heating and sand period. Local agricultural residuals burning may contribute to EC and ion concentrations, as shown by ion temporal variation and OC and EC correlation analysis. Heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu and Mn) from coal combustion and industrial processes should be paid attention to in heating and sand periods. The anion/cation ratios exhibited their highest values for the background site with the influence of stationary sources on its upper wind direction during the sand period. Secondary organic carbon were 1.6-21.7, 1.5-23.0, 0.4-17.0, 0.2-33.0 and 0.2-21.1 μg m(-3), accounting for 20-77%, 44-88%, 4-77%, 8-69% and 4-73% of OC for the five sampling sites ZQ, DZ, XH, WH and SK, respectively. From the temporal and spatial variation analysis of major species, coal combustion, agricultural residual burning and industrial emission including dust re-suspended from raw material storage piles were important sources for atmospheric PM(10) in Fushun at heating, non-heating and sand periods, respectively. It was confirmed by principal component analysis that coal combustion, vehicle emission, industrial activities, soil dust, cement and construction dust and biomass burning were the main sources for PM(10) in this coal-based city.     

Suitability of selected bioindicators of atmospheric pollution in the industrialised region of Ostrava,Upper Silesia,Czech Republic

This study is a continuation of our preceding research identifying suitable environmental samples for the tracing of atmospheric pollution in industrial areas. Three additional types of environmental samples were used to characterise contamination sources in the industrial area of Ostrava city, Czech Republic. The region is known for its extensive metallurgical and mining activities. Fingerprinting of stable Pb isotopes was applied to distinguish individual sources of anthropogenic Pb. A wide range of ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios was observed in the investigated samples: ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.168–1.198 in mosses; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.167–1.215 in soils and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.158–1.184 in tree cores. Black and brown coal combustion, as well as metallurgical activities, is the two main sources of pollution in the area. Fossil fuel burning in industry and households seems to be a stronger source of Pb emissions than from the metallurgical industry. Concentration analyses of tree rings showed that a significant increase in As concentrations occurred between 1999 and 2016 (from 0.38 mg kg^?1 to 13.8 mg kg^?1). This shift corresponds to the use of brown coal from Bílina, Czech Republic, with an increased As concentration. The burning of low-quality fuels in households remains a problem in the area, as small ground sources have a greater influence on the air quality than do industrial sources.     

Concentrations, sources and temporal trends in atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a major conurbation

Concentrations of atmospheric PAH were separately determined in total suspended particulate matter and associated vapour phase in ambient air in Birmingham, UK. Samples of 24 h duration were taken simultaneously at two locations (the Bristol Road Observatory Site, BROS, and the Elms Road Observatory Site, EROS) on 44 separate occasions every one to two weeks between October 1999 and January 2001. BROS was 10 m from the busy Bristol Road, 800 m from EROS that was located within the "green space" of the University of Birmingham campus. With the exception of acenaphthene, average concentrations of all measured PAH at BROS exceed those at EROS, with a paired t-test revealing these roadside increments to be significant (p < 0.05) for 9 out of the 16 target PAH, demonstrating the importance of traffic emissions of PAH. Although the declines were not statistically significant (p > 0.05) except for phenanthrene and fluoranthene, concentrations of individual PAH at EROS between July and December inclusive in 1999 and 2000 fell by between 16 and 54% compared with those during the same months in 1997. Multiple linear regression of PAH concentrations against meteorological variables confirmed the influence of the Bristol Road on BROS but not EROS. Cluster analysis of PAH contamination in individual samples showed there to be two statistically distinct groups of samples. One group contained 15 samples, all of which displayed elevated concentrations. Examination of air mass back trajectory data, revealed that these PAH pollution episodes originate due to the combined effects of meteorology and local traffic emissions, rather than as a result of long-range transport. Eighteen 12 h samples were also taken at EROS over the period of the November Bonfire Night festivals of 1999 and 2000. These revealed significantly elevated PAH concentrations on the nights when ignition of bonfires and fireworks would be anticipated to peak. These results are relevant to assessments of the impact of similar "festivals of fire" elsewhere. In particular, retene (7-isopropyl-1-methylphenanthrene) concentrations were especially elevated, indicating it has possible utility as an indicator of wood combustion emissions.     

大气颗粒物中元素碳的直接测定

对原来用元素分析仪测定大气颗粒物样品中有机碳、元素碳的方法[1 ] 进行改进 ,将差减法间接测定元素碳改为一步直接测定元素碳。有机碳、元素碳的测量标准偏差的平均值分别为 0 35 %、0 34% ,提高了元素碳的测量精度 ,同时避免了误差传递 ,解决了差减法测定元素碳时出现负值的情况。     

Characterization of metal aerosols in PM10 from urban, industrial, and Asian Dust sources

Metallic elements (As, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and Zn) in PM10 aerosols were determined at urban and industrial sites, which are affected by traffic and residential sources, metallurgical activity, and petrochemical and steel works. The effect of the long-range transported Asian Dust on the metal content of aerosols was also examined. At the urban sampling site, concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Se, and Zn were assigned to road traffic and combustion sources, Ca and Fe to soil dust sources from long-range transported Asian Dusts, and Cr and Ni to metallurgical sources transported from the nearby industrial complex, based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Enhanced Cr and Ni concentrations at the metallurgical industrial site suggest that local emissions from metal-assembly facilities and manufacture of alloys contributed to elevated levels of those metals. We also observed that petrochemical activities contributed to increased levels of Sb and Zn. When Asian Dust events occurred, Ca, Fe, K, and Zn concentrations dramatically increased compared to values without the Asian Dust. Two different types of Asian Dust events were observed. For the Asian Dust event 1 (4/1/2007), the Fe and K concentrations were much higher by a factor of 2–3 than those for the Asian Dust event 2 (3/2/2008), while As, Mn, and Zn concentrations were significantly higher on the Asian Dust event 2. Backward trajectory analysis showed that for the Asian Dust event 2, the air mass had passed over the heavily industrialized zones in China during long-range transport to the current sampling site, suggesting that the As, Mn, and Zn may have originated from industrial sources.     

柳州市大气颗粒物中多环芳烃的种类和时空分布特征及来源

采用气相色谱/质谱联用技术(GC/MS)检测了柳州市大气颗粒物样品中的PAHs,比较了柳州市各区大气颗粒物中多环芳烃含量的差异以及不同季节对多环芳烃含量的影响,讨论了其分布规律及污染源.     

Speciation and preservation of inorganic arsenic in drinking water sources using EDTA with IC separation and ICP-MS detection

The native distribution of As(III) and As(v) in drinking water supplies can influence the treatment removal strategy. The stability of As(III) and As(v) in iron-rich drinking waters can be affected by the formation of Fe precipitates (Fe oxides and/or hydroxides designated by "FeOOH"). These precipitates (ppts) can form during the transport of the sample to the laboratory for arsenic speciation analysis. The analysis of the ppt indicates considerable loss of the aqueous arsenic species (As(aq)) to the solid phase "FeOOH" ppt. Studies of laboratory reagent water containing both As(III) and Fe(III) indicate that the resulting "FeOOH" ppt contained a mixture of As(III) and As(v) with near quantitative removal of the As(aq) in 18 hr. The corresponding aqueous fraction after filtration through a 0.45 microm filter was composed primarily of As(v). The formation of "FeOOH" ppt and the loss of As(aq) to the ppt can be virtually eliminated by the use of EDTA, which sequesters the FeIII). Reagent water fortified with Fe(III), As(III) and EDTA produced less than a 1 ppb change in the As(III)aq concentration over 16 d. The EDTA treatment was also tested on three well waters with different native As(III )/As(v) ratios. The native distribution of As(III)/As(v) was stabilized over a period of 10 d with a worst case conversion of As(III) to As(v) of 2 ppb over a 30 d period. All well waters not treated with EDTA had dramatic losses (a factor of 2-5) of As(aq) in less than 1 d. These results indicated that EDTA preservation treatment can be used to preserve As(aq) in waters where the predominant species is the reduced form [As(III)] or in waters which the predominant species is the oxidized form [As(v)]. This preliminary investigation of EDTA to preserve As species in Fe-rich waters indicates stability can be achieved for greater than 14 d.     

Lithogenic, oceanic and anthropogenic sources of atmospheric Sb to a maritime blanket bog, Myrarnar, Faroe Islands

Antimony concentrations were measured in a core collected from Myrarnar, a blanket bog on the Faroe Islands which has been accumulating peat for more than six thousand years. The vertical distribution of Sb indicates that it has been supplied to the peat exclusively from the atmosphere. Despite the proximity to the ocean, the contribution of Sb to the peat from marine aerosols amounts to less than ca. 10% of the natural inputs. Although the peat core contains four notable layers of volcanic ash originating from Iceland, these have not contributed significantly to the Sb inventory. However, the distribution of Sb closely resembles that of Pb, with most of the Sb found in peats dating from the industrial period. Peat samples dating from the Roman Period are not only contaminated with Pb, but also with Sb. Lead is known to be immobile in peat bogs, and in Europe has been derived predominantly from industrial sources for thousands of years. The correlation between Sb and Pb in the peat core from the Faroe Islands supports the hypothesis that Sb is also effectively immobile in peat, and that ombrotrophic bogs are faithful archives of atmospheric Sb deposition. The data presented here also reinforces the view that natural Sb inputs during the past two centuries are dwarfed by industrial inputs, and that human activities have affected the atmospheric Sb cycle to a comparable extent to that of Pb. The natural rate of atmospheric Sb deposition recorded by the peat core (0.33 microg m(-2) year(-1)) is remarkably similar to the value obtained from a Swiss peat bog (Etang de la Gruère) in the samples dating from ca. 6000 to 9000 years ago (0.35 microg m(-2) year(-1)) which suggests that the background rates obtained from the peat cores have broader validity. Consistent with previous work, the data from the Faroe Islands suggests that the natural flux of Sb to the global atmosphere may have been overestimated by a factor of ten, and that the influence of human activities has been underestimated to the same extent.     

Passive monitoring of atmospheric heavy metals in a historical city of central India by Lepraria lobificans Nyl.

Using an organism living in situ for monitoring is referred as passive monitoring. Lepraria lobificans Nyl., a leprose lichen growing naturally on monuments and buildings in the city Mandav in central India is used for passive monitoring of atmospheric metals. Seven metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Al, Fe, Cu, and Zn) were analyzed. Samples collected from road site exhibit the maximum concentration of Fe, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Zn. Iron exhibit maximum accumulation both in lichen thallus and the substratum with mean values of 2,195.63 μg g^???1 dry weight. As compared with other growth form of lichens, L. lobificans exhibits the higher accumulation of Fe than foliose and fruticose lichens. On the basis of these results, it can be hypothesized that L. lobificans is an excellent accumulator of different metals. The statistical analysis applied to the element concentration between the metals as well as between the sites by analysis of variance found the difference to be significant at 1% and 5%, respectively. Student–Newman–Keuls test also shows significant difference for iron between the different metals.     

Size-segregated trace elements in continental suburban aerosols: seasonal variation and estimation of local,regional, and remote emission sources

We have measured trace element contents in suburban aerosols from six size fractions in the range of PM_0.27–16 from a background station in Belgrade (Serbia). The distribution and concentration of elements were determined within each of the investigated Dp fractions with emphasis on the fine and coarse modes. Fine/coarse mode ratios of element can provide information regarding their anthropogenic or natural origin. Analysis of seasonal variations of element contents in fine and coarse mode show that Cd, Co, K, and V have higher concentrations in the fine mode during heating season, while Fe contents are lower. In the coarse mode, Cu and V have higher concentrations during the heating season, while Al, Fe, Mg, Mn, and Sb contents are lower. We also apply a distribution probability model (normal, log-normal, and three-parameter Weibull) as new approach to estimate the distances of emission sources that can contribute to pollutant contents in particulate matter of the investigated location.     

Speciation and ecological risk of heavy metals in intertidal sediments of Quanzhou Bay, China

The chemical speciation of nine heavy metals in intertidal sediments from Quanzhou Bay was determined using a modified sequential extraction procedure, proposed by the Commission of the European Community Bureau of Reference. The results show that Mn presents the highest percentage in the acid-soluble fraction, and Pb and Cu present the highest percentages in the reducible fraction. The highest percentages of Fe, V, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Co were found in the residual fraction. The mobility order of the heavy metals studied on the basis of the nonresidual content of the elements is Mn > Pb > Cu > Co > Zn > Ni > Cr > V > Fe. The assessment on potential ecological risk indices of some heavy metals indicates that Zn, Ni, and Cr show moderate contamination, while Cu and Pb show slighter contamination. On the whole, the comprehensive potential ecological risk index of Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, and Pb in the sediments presents moderate degree.     

Modelling the contribution of different sources of sulphur to atmospheric deposition in the United Kingdom

In order to understand relationships between sources and receptors of atmospheric deposition, computer models must be used. This paper describes a Lagrangian acid deposition model that represents emissions of trace species across Northern Europe. The chemistry of sulphur dioxide, dimethyl sulphide and hydrogen sulphide is represented and the model tested against estimates of UK wet and dry deposition. Mean UK wet and dry deposition for the period 1992–1994 was 206 and 145 ktonne S yr^-1, respectively. The model predicted wet and dry deposition of 222 and 166 ktonne S yr^-1, in good agreement with measurements. The model has been used to examine the sources of deposited S to the UK. For a base year of 1992, 86% of the UK's SO₂ emissions are exported. The S deposition attributable from mainland European sources was 36% of the UK total S deposition, in good agreement with other UK models but this differs substantially from the calculations of the EMEP model. Natural sources of S deposition from planktonic emissions of dimethyl sulphide, biological emissions of hydrogen sulphide and non-eruptive volcanic emissions of sulphur dioxide contributed approximately 1% of the modelled UK S deposition, of which 95% originated from dimethyl sulphide. The explicit chemical scheme for dimethyl sulphide incorporated into the model showed that 24% of the resultant deposited S was methane sulphonic acid. Boundary conditions of the model were tested and it was found that initialisation of sulphur dioxide and sulphate concentrations to representative ambient conditions had a very small effect. The modelled contribution of UK and European sources to UK S deposition was approximately 40 and 60%, respectively, showing the dramatic change arising from projected UK SO₂ emissions in 2010. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identifying the sources and timing of ancient and medieval atmospheric lead pollution in England using a peat profile from Lindow bog, Manchester

A peat core from Lindow bog near Manchester, England, was precisely cut into 2 cm slices to provide a high-resolution reconstruction of atmospheric Pb deposition. Radiocarbon and (210)Pb age dates show that the peat core represents the period ca. 2000 BC to AD 1800. Eleven radiocarbon age dates of bulk peat samples reveal a linear age-depth relationship with an average temporal resolution of 18.5 years per cm, or 37 years per sample. Using the Pb/Ti ratio to calculate the rates of anthropogenic, atmospheric Pb deposition, the profile reveals Pb contamination first appearing in peat samples dating from ca. 900 BC which clearly pre-date Roman mining activities. Using TIMS, MC-ICP-MS, and SF-ICP-MS to measure the isotopic composition of Pb, the (208)Pb/(206)Pb and (206)Pb/(207)Pb data indicate that English ores were the predominant sources during the pre-Roman, Roman, and Medieval Periods. The study shows that detailed studies of peat profiles from ombrotrophic bogs, using appropriate preparatory and analytical methods, can provide new insight into the timing, intensity, and predominant sources of atmospheric Pb contamination, even in samples dating from ancient times.     

Dry deposition velocity of atmospheric nitrogen in a typical red soil agro-ecosystem in Southeastern China

Atmospheric dry deposition is an important nitrogen (N) input to farmland ecosystems. The main nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere include gaseous N (NH₃, NO₂, HNO₃) and aerosol N (NH₄ ⁺/NO₃ ^?). With the knowledge of increasing agricultural effects by dry deposition of nitrogen, researchers have paid great attention to this topic. Based on the big-leaf resistance dry deposition model, dry N deposition velocities (V _d) in a typical red soil agro-ecosystem, Yingtan, Jiangxi, Southeastern China, were estimated with the data from an Auto-Meteorological Experiment Station during 2004–2007. The results show that hourly deposition velocities (V _dh) were in the range of 0.17–0.34, 0.05–0.24, 0.57–1.27, and 0.05–0.41 cm/s for NH₃, NO₂, HNO₃, and aerosol N, respectively, and the V _dh were much higher in daytime than in nighttime and had a peak value around noon. Monthly dry deposition velocities (V _dm) were in the range of 0.14–0.36, 0.06–0.18, and 0.07–0.25 cm/s for NH₃, NO₂, and aerosol N, respectively. Their minimum values appeared from June to August, while their maximum values occurred from February to March each year. The maximum value for HNO₃ deposition velocities appeared in July each year, and V _dm(HNO₃) ranged from 0.58 to 1.31 cm/s during the 4 years. As for seasonal deposition velocities (V _ds), V _ds(NH₃), V _ds(NO₂), and V _ds(aerosol N) in winter or spring were significantly higher than those in summer or autumn, while V _ds(HNO₃) in summer were higher than that in winter. In addition, there is no significant difference among all the annual means for deposition velocities (V _da). The average values for NH₃, NO₂, HNO₃, and aerosol N deposition velocities in the 4 years were 0.26, 0.12, 0.81, and 0.16 cm/s, respectively. The model is convenient and feasible to estimate dry deposition velocity of atmospheric nitrogen in the typical red soil agro-ecosystem.     

Characteristics of atmospheric carbonyls and VOCs in Forest Park in South China

The diurnal variation of atmospheric carbonyls and VOCs in a forest in south China were studied in summer 2004. Twenty kinds of carbonyls and eight kinds of VOCs were identified and quantified. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were the two most abundant carbonyls, while the most abundant VOCs were isoprene, followed by o-xylene. Most C₃-C₁₀ carbonyls had higher concentrations from 09:00 to 15:00, and their levels were lower during night-time and often reached the lowest in early morning. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, however, showed two high levels in their diurnal patterns partly due to their different sources and sinks. The VOCs had different diurnal patterns compared to most carbonyls. The highest concentrations were observed from 03:00 to 06:00 for 1-butene, from 06:00 to 12:00 for isoprene, and from 12:00 to 15:00 for α-pinene. The highest levels for aromatic hydrocarbons occurred during midnight and the lowest in late afternoon. According to the study, emissions from vegetation and photo-oxidation of gas-phase hydrocarbons were the main sources for some carbonyls and VOCs in this region. Other compounds, such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and BTEX, showed anthropogenic sources.