Soil crust formation by dust deposition at Shaartuz,Tadzhik, S.S.R.

The shrub-steppe area near Shaartuz, Tadzhik, S.S.R., is shown to be a net accumulator of dust despite being an occasional source of dust. For the accumulation of the dust to form the observed surface crust, a net deposition of about 290–490 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ of particles smaller than 20 μm is required, depending on the duration of the deposition period. The particles smaller than 20 μm are mixed with particles brought up from the sandy material below the surface crust by bioturbation and are incorporated into the surface crust. Measurements during the 16 and 20 September 1989 dust storms provided a total deposition of 41.1 g m⁻² of particles smaller than 20 μm. Because 10–30 dust storms are observed at Shaartuz, the measured average dust storm deposition would yield 206–617 g m⁻² yr⁻¹. This range of deposition is of the order of that needed to provide a mass balance for the observed crust formation. Cryptogams (including algae, lichen, and moss) and rainwater are the main agents of incorporation of the aeolian dust into a stable soil crust. The role that the vascular plants played at the Shaartuz site was to reduce the rate of soil movement to levels where the cryptogamic crusting was possible. the observed mechanisms of dust deposition followed by crust incorporation are possibly an important processes in loess formation in Central Asia.     

Levels of airborne man-made mineral fibres in U.K. dwellings. I—Fibre levels during and after installation of insulation

This paper gives the details of airborne levels of man-made mineral fibres (MMMF) found during installation of loft insulation in 12 dwellings. About 250 samples of air were collected and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Respirable fibre levels measured in static samples collected in the lofts during installation generally were < 0.1 f ml⁻¹. In living spaces respirable fibre levels were< 0.006 f ml⁻¹. Personal samples on the installers gave < 1 f ml⁻¹, with the exception of a fine glass fibre blanket. A few selected samples were also analyzed by phase contrast optical microscopy (PCOM) which showed lower values than those recorded by TEM. Static gravimetric concentrations in the lofts were in the 0.3–6.5 mg m⁻³ range, and in the living spaces 0.11–0.44 mg m⁻³, but in both environments most of this dust was not MMMF.     

Characteristics of airborne particles inside southern California museums

The concentrations and chemical composition of suspended particulate matter were measured in both the fine and total size modes inside and outside five southern California museums over summer and winter periods. The seasonally averaged indoor/outdoor ratios for particulate matter mass concentrations ranged from 0.16 to 0.96 for fine particles and from 0.06 to 0.53 for coarse particles, with the lower values observed for buildings with sophisticated ventilation systems which include filters for particulate matter removal. Museums with deliberate particle filtration systems showed indoor fine particle concentrations generally averaging less than 10 μg m⁻³. One museum with no environmental control system showed indoor fine particle concentrations averaging nearly 60 μg m⁻³ in winter and coarse particle concentrations in the 30–40 μg m⁻³ range. Analyses of indoor vs outdoor concentrations of major chemical species indicated that indoor sources of organic matter may exist at all sites, but that none of the other measured species appear to have major indoor sources at the museums studied. Significant fractions of the dark-colored fine elemental (black) carbon and soil dust particles present in outdoor air are able to penetrate to the indoor atmosphere of the museums studied, and may constitute a soiling hazard to works of art displayed in museums.     

A study on the characterization of dustfall

A study was conducted of the dustfall around Elaziǧ cement plant in Turkey. The work concentrated, particularly, on the characterization of particles. The soluble, insoluble, ignitable and unignitable fractions of particles were determined. The composition of dust pollution and its variation with meteorological parameters, location and seasons, and the chemical and mineralogical composition, and trace element contents of particles were also studied. The experimental work was carried out at seven sampling station for 15 months. The average rate of dust deposition over the area was 36.37 gm⁻² month⁻¹. The rates of deposition for insoluble (in water) and ignitable (at 900°C) particles are 26.95 and 8.51 gm⁻² month⁻¹, respectively. The equilibrium pH of solutions shows that the particles deposited are rather alkaline in character. During the warm season the mean pH value is 8.63, during the cold season it is 6.49. The reduction of pH may be caused by acidic oxides such as SO₂ originating from combustion processes. Calcium, silicon, aluminiun and iron are the main constituents of the particles. The general view of composition is similar to cement or its raw materials. The XRD analysis shows that crystalline compounds are calcite, quartz, albite, muscovite, chlorite, edenite, dicalcium silicate and, possibly, other cement compounds and hydration products. The ratios of heavy metals such as Pb, Mn, Ni and Co are significant. The maximum concentration of lead was found to be 3600 mg kg⁻¹.     

Project aguila: In situ measurements of Mexico City air pollution by a research aircraft

Measurements of aerosol concentrations, chemical species and meteorological quantities in the air above Mexico City were obtained from an instrumented research aircraft. Concentrations of particles in the size range between 0.12 and 3.12 μm were nearly invariant with height, and typical values were of the order of 5000 cm⁻³. However, particles smaller than 0.12 μm were confined to the lowest few hundred meters of the atmosphere until the morning temperature inversion dissipated, after which time those particles, together with newly formed particles created by secondary processes, mixed to a greater height above the city. Total particle concentrations near the surface attained values in excess of 60,000 cm⁻³. An examination of the corresponding profiles of SO₂ suggests that combustion processes are likely sources for the additional small particles.     

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon degradation by heterogeneous reactions with N2O5 on atmospheric particles

The degradation of particulate polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) on atmospheric soot particles in the presence of gas phase dinitrogen pentoxide (N₂O₅) was explored. Dilute diesel and wood soot particles containing PAH were reacted with∼10ppm of N₂O₅ in a 200 ℓ continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). To provide a stable source of particles for reaction in the CSTR, diesel or wood soot particles were injected at night into a 25 m³ Teflon outdoor chamber. The large chamber served as a reservoir for the feed aerosol, and the aerosol could then be introduced at a constant flow rate into the CSTR. PAH-N₂O₅ heterogeneous rate constants for wood soot at 15°C ranged from2 × 10⁻¹⁸to5 × 10⁻¹⁸ cm³ molecules⁻¹ s⁻¹. For diesel soot the rate constants at 16°C were higher and ranged from5 × 10⁻¹⁸to30 × 10⁻¹⁸ cm³ molecules⁻¹ s⁻¹. Comparisons with other studies suggest that sunlight is the most important factor which influences PAH decay. This is followed by ozone, NO₂, N₂O₅ and nitric acid. The rate constants of nitro-PAH formation from a parent PAH and N₂O₅ were of the order of1 × 10⁻¹⁹−1 × 10⁻¹⁸ molecules⁻¹s⁻¹. The uncertainty associated with all of these rate constants is± a factor of 3. Given, however, the small magnitude of the rate constants and the low levels of N₂O₅ present in the atmosphere, we concluded that PAH heterogeneous reactions with gas phase N₂O₅ degrade particle-bound PAH or to form nitro-PAH from PAH arenot very important. (Direct application of the specific rate constants derived in this study to ambient atmospheres should not be undertaken unless the ambient particle size distributions and chemical composition of the particles are similar to the ones reported in this study.)     

Nitrate formation on sea-salt and mineral particles—A single particle approach

Heterogeneous reactions of NO₂ and HNO₃ at sub-ppm levels with individual sea-salt and mineral particles were investigated. Particles deposited on filters and on electron microscope grids placed in a Teflon reaction chamber, were exposed to NO₂ or HNO₃ under controlled conditions. Experiments were carried out under dark conditions and were repeated under u.v. radiation (solar simulation). Nitrates formed on the particles were determined by bulk and individual particle analyses. Individual sea-salt and mineral particles were observed in a transmission electron microscope for the presence of nitrate on the particle surface.The formation of nitrates on sea-salt particles under dark conditions, was in the range of 0.1–3.3 mg NO₃⁻ g⁻¹ NaCl. Higher values were obtained for mineral particles: 0.2–8.2 mg NO₃⁻ g⁻¹ aerosol ([NO₂] =0.18 and 0.54 ppm; [HNO₃] = 0.04 ppm; exposure time 1–7 days; relative humidity = 70%). The formation of nitrates on sea-salt particles increased from 3.0 to 16.1 mg NO₃⁻ g⁻ NaCl when u.v. radiation was added. Mineral particles did not show a significant increase in nitrate formation under u.v. radiation.Microscopy showed that about 50% of the soil particles reacted with NO₂ and HNO₃ to form mixed nitrate particles. Almost all sea-salt particles (above 95%) reacted with both gases, although the reaction was not complete and took place only on the particle surface.Application of electron microscopy and a specific microspot technique provided direct evidence for the formation of nitrate on sea-salt and mineral particles exposed to NO₂ and HNO₃.     

A chemical characterization of atmospheric aerosol in Sapporo

Monthly mean chemical composition of aerosol with diameter less than 8 μm was identified in Sapporo in 1982. The mass of aerosol was made up of nine components: elemental C, organics, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺, Cl⁻, Na⁺, soil particles and water. The concentrations of carbonaceous particles (elemental C and organics) was relatively high (12.7–16.0μ m⁻³) in autumn and winter (October–February) due to emission from domestic heating and comprised 36–41% of total aerosol mass. Higher concentration of soil particles was observed in spring (March–May) (9.7–13.1 μg m⁻³) and comprised 22–29% of total aerosol mass due to suspension by strong wind. On the other hand, the concentration of excess SO₄²⁻ (non-sea salt SO₄²⁻), which ranged from 2.6–5.2 μg m⁻³, did not change remarkably with season, and the fraction of excess sulfate increased to 21% in summer (July–August) probably due to photochemical transformation from SO₂. Nitrate concentration was far less than that of SO₄²⁻ throughout the year in Sapporo.     

基于SPAMS的兰州市2018年冬季沙尘天气过程细颗粒物污染特征及来源研究

2018年11月22日-12月1日,兰州市经历了一次远距离传输的沙尘天气过程,为了解此次沙尘天气过程时段细颗粒物污染特征及其污染来源变化特征,本研究基于单颗粒气溶胶质谱仪（SPAMS）细颗粒物自动采集数据,并结合常规污染物自动监测数据和气象因子数据对沙尘天气前后及其过境期间细颗粒物化学组分及污染来源变化情况进行了分析,同时利用后向轨迹模型（HYSPLIT）研究了沙尘气溶胶的输送路径.研究结果表明：受沙尘天气过境影响,兰州市PM₁₀浓度大幅升高,PM_2.5/PM₁₀最小值仅为0.13,SO₂、NO₂、CO质量浓度出现明显降低,而O₃质量浓度在沙尘过境时有所升高;细颗粒物质量浓度与MASS数浓度变化趋势基本一致,细颗粒物的变化趋势可一定程度上反映大气细颗粒物的污染状况;利用自适应共振神经网络法分类后经人工合并将所采集到的细颗粒分为9类：OC、EC、HOC、OCEC、MD、HM、K、Na、LEV;所选时间段内SPAMS采集到的OC（24.8%）类颗粒物数量最多,沙尘过境时MD、LEV、Na类颗粒物占比不同程度增大,其余颗粒物占比减小;沙尘过境时扬尘源、生物质燃烧源、工业工艺源、餐饮及其它源贡献率增加,其中扬尘源增幅最大,而其余源贡献占比减小;后向轨迹HYSPLIT模型输送路径结果显示沙尘天气过程的起源地为塔克拉玛干沙漠,传输方向为经新疆的塔里木盆地塔克拉玛干沙漠进入青海中部,最后影响兰州地区.     

The removal of nitric acid to atmospheric particles during a wintertime field study

A field was conducted in Warren, MI, during the 1987/88 winter period to examined the reaction of HNO₃ with particulate salt from road deicing. Samples of gases and particles were collected on a daily basis over a 4-month period. If HNO₃ reacts with particulate salt, particles of sodium nitrate will be formed and gaseous hydrochloric acid will be released. Thus, during the periods of high salt concentrations, one would expect increases in HCl and particulate NO₃⁻ and a decrease in HNO₃. The effect was observed, although the total amount of NaNO₃ formed was not large. The increase in particulate NO₃⁻ did not appear in the large particle mode. Although more than 40% of the salt was present as very large particles (> 8 μm), most of the surface area was associated with small particles. Since the reaction occurred at the particle surface, the NO₃⁻ appeared in the small particle mode. Large-particle nitrate has been observed in association with sea salt and crustal particles and has also been attributed to reactions with HNO₃. These cases will be reconsidered based on the road salt results.     

A case study of Asian dust storm particles: Chemical composition, reactivity to SO2 and hygroscopic properties

Mineral dust comprises a great fraction of the global aerosol loading, but remains the largest uncertainty in predictions of the future climate due to its complexity in composition and physico-chemical properties. In this work, a case study characterizing Asian dust storm particles was conducted by multiple analysis methods, including SEM-EDS, XPS, FT-IR, BET, TPD/mass and Knudsen cell/mass. The morphology, elemental fraction, source distribution, true uptake coefficient for SO₂, and hygroscopic behavior were studied. The major components of Asian dust storm particles are aluminosilicate, SiO₂ and CaCO₃, with organic compounds and inorganic nitrate coated on the surface. It has a low reactivity towards SO₂ with a true uptake coefficient, 5.767×10^-6, which limits the conversion of SO₂ to sulfate during dust storm periods. The low reactivity also means that the heterogeneous reactions of SO₂ in both dry and humid air conditions have little effect on the hygroscopic behavior of the dust particles.     

Biogenic and anthropogenic organic compounds in eolian particulates in the East Mediterranean region—I. Occurrence and origin

Lipids of biogenic and anthropogenic origin were determined in aerosol samples, collected seasonally, in a coastal area on the north of the island of Crete. Lipid classes such as n-alkanes, hopanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty acid salts and α,ω-dicarboxylic acids were characterized by GC/MS and GC/FID analysis, in terms of their contents of homologous compound series. The concentrations ranged between 56 and 215 ng m⁻³ for n-alkanes, 10 and 52 ng m⁻³ for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 2 and 31 ng m⁻³ for fatty alcohols, 13 and 279 ng m⁻³ for fatty acids, 24 and 220 ng m⁻³ for fatty acid salts and 0.4 and 7.5 ng m⁻³ for α, ω-dicarboxylic acid salts. The prevailing winds were influencing the composition of the eolian particles. Generally, aerosols sampled during south wind events predominantly contained lipids originating from higher plants, while when north and northwest winds prevailed the major components were of marine origin. The absence of unsaturated fatty acids in all aerosol samples is related to the presence of α,ω-dicarboxylic acids, which are believed to be their photo-oxidation products.     

The investigation of air quality and acid rain over the Gulf of Mexico

A research cruise was conducted in the summer of 1986 by a group of scientist from the U.S.A. and Mexico to investigate air chemistry over the Gulf of Mexico. Chemical, physical, meteorological and oceanographic measurements were carried out to survey temporal and spatial variations of diverse parameters throughout the Gulf. Emphases were placed on air-sea-land exchange of gases and aerosols, natural air quality, transport of anthropogenic air pollution, and acid rain deposition to the Gulf. Although the prevailing winds were easterly from the sea during the cruise, the air was highly polluted with continental aerosols, probably caused by local shifting winds and the oscillation between sea breeze and land breeze. Aerosol number concentrations were measured from 10⁵ cm⁻³ at ports to 10³ cm⁻³ in the open Gulf. The average aerosol mass concentration was ∼25μg M⁻³, consisting of 60% insoluble crustal particles that contained Si, Al, Fe; 30% seasalt particles that contained Na⁺ and Cl⁻; and 10% anthropogenic sulfate and nitrate particles. Samples of rain water collected near the coast were acidic (pH ∼4). The concentrations of dimethyl sulfide correlated with bio-particle concentrations in surface seawater and could be a significant precursor of atmospheric SO₄²⁻ particles. The life cycles of the aerosols in the Gulf, including sources, transport, transformation, and wet and dry deposition are discussed.     

利用偏振-米散射激光雷达研究广州一次浮尘天气过程

利用偏振-米散射激光雷达、颗粒物监测仪数据,结合风廓线等气象资料分析讨论了2012年3月25日广州浮尘天气气溶胶污染事件,通过气团后向轨迹分析了沙尘气溶胶的来源及路径.结果表明本次污染过程与我国西北地区大部沙尘暴产生的浮尘远距离输送有关;浮尘期间相对湿度迅速下降,测点PM10中PM2.5所占的比例在28%~31%之间,与广州地区以细粒子污染为特征不同,本次气溶胶污染事件主要是由粗粒子引起;影响近地面的沙尘层主要分布高度在1000~2000m区域;沙尘过境期间探测到气溶胶最大退偏比为0.34.     

两种典型污染时段鹤山市大气细颗粒污染特征及来源

PM_2.5和O₃浓度超标是我国大气污染的主要特征,研究两种典型污染时段的细颗粒化学组成、混合状态和来源对治理大气污染具有重要意义.2016年11月10—20日广东省鹤山市先后出现了PM_2.5和O₃超标的污染事件.污染期间,采用SPAMS（单颗粒气溶胶质谱仪）对细颗粒进行实时采样分析,共采集到有正负化学组成信息的颗粒422 944个,占总颗粒数的19.2%.基于单颗粒质谱数据特征,使用自适应共振神经元网络算法（ART-2a）,对单颗粒数据进行自适应分类.颗粒物划分为OC（有机碳）、EC（元素碳）、ECOC（元素-有机碳混合）、HOC（高分子有机碳）、Pb-rich（富铅）、Si-rich（富硅）、LEV（左旋葡聚糖）、K-Secondary（钾二次）、Na-rich（海盐）和HM（重金属）颗粒共10类.结果表明:两个PM_2.5污染时段EC颗粒和K-Secondary颗粒的占比高,EC颗粒分别占46.5%和61.1%,K-Secondary颗粒分别占14.3%和10.3%;O₃污染时段EC颗粒占比（39.4%）最高,其次是OC颗粒占比17.0%;两种污染时段OC组分与HSO₄-和NO₃-的混合程度都有明显的上升,说明污染有利于有机气溶胶的老化.由源解析结果可知,PM_2.5污染时段,细颗粒主要来源于燃煤、机动车尾气和扬尘,而O₃污染时段细颗粒主要来源于燃煤、生物质燃烧和扬尘;此外,两种污染时段燃煤源对细颗粒的贡献都有较大提升.研究显示,控制燃煤源的排放对污染物的降低有着重要影响.      

Effects of Asian dust events on atmospheric bacterial communities at different distances downwind of the source region

Aeolian dust particles arising from arid and semiarid zones are known to carry microbes by air currents. The effect of wind-borne bacteria on atmospheric bacterial population at various downwind distances from the dust source regions must be clarified, but has not yet been reported. This study monitored the bacterial abundance and community composition in outdoor aerosol samples in Beijing, China, which is close to the Asian dust source regions, and compared them with the results obtained in a distant region(Osaka, Japan).The Asian dust collected in Beijing contained(4 ± 3) × 10~4 bacterial cells/m~3, approximately~4 times higher than in Osaka. On 15 April 2015, Beijing experienced severe Asian dust events with a 1000-fold increase in bacterial abundance, relative to non-Asian dust days. Dominant bacterial phyla and classes in Asian dust collected in Beijing were Actinobacteria, Bacilli and Acidobacteria, and the bacterial community composition varied more widely than in Osaka.The bacterial community compositions differed between the Beijing and Osaka dusts, even for the same Asian dust events. These results indicated that aerosol bacterial communities nearer the dust source are more affected by eolian dust than their distant counterparts.     

沙尘天气对兰州市PM10中主要水溶性离子的影响

利用在线监测仪器MARGA在兰州大学盘旋路校区对兰州市大气PM10中水溶性离子进行监测,监测期间(2011-04-01~2011-06-30)有15 d出现沙尘天气.兰州市PM10中主要水溶性离子物种为Ca2+、SO2-4和NO-3.扬沙天气期间NO-3和NH+4的浓度比非沙尘期间低,说明沙尘天气对当地人为源所排放污染物具有清除作用.沙尘天气期间,作为土壤污染源标识物的Mg2+、Na+和Ca2+离子都有明显增加,Na+和Mg2+相关系数为0.520,Na+和Ca2+相关系数为0.659,Mg2+和Ca2+相关系数为0.671,而非沙尘天气期间三者的相关系数并不高,Na+和Mg2+相关系数为0.065,Na+和Ca2+相关系数为0.131,Mg2+和Ca2+相关系数为0.163,说明沙尘天气期间三者之间具有相同的污染源,主要来自于土壤风沙尘,而非沙尘天气期间三者来源不同.Cl-的浓度在扬沙天气明显高于浮尘和非沙尘天气期间,说明外来的土壤风沙尘是Cl-的主要来源.     

Eolian Dust Affects Phytoplankton in the Waters off Kuwait, the Arabian Gulf

 Summer phytoplankton assemblages from surface waters off Kuwait were enriched with levels of eolian dust (10⁵, 10⁶, and 10⁷ mg/m³), similar to seasonal dust fallout for this region. Algal growth was positive and dose dependent. Highest biomass was up to 527 μg chlorophyll a/l on day 5. The maximum doublings of biomass per day were 0.64, 0.77, and 1.42, corresponding to 10⁵, 10⁶, and 10⁷ mg/m³ enrichment and were significantly higher than the 0.56 for control. Changes in the phytoplankton species composition occurred with changes in biomass, with small algae dominating peak populations. It is suggested that through enrichment of trace elements via eolian dust, a high level of phytoplankton biomass and growth can be sustained in this arid environment. Received: 15 October / Accepted in revised form: 16 June 1999     

Stability of the pH and the contents of ammonium and nitrate in precipitation samples

The changes in the pH and the contents of NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻ and 10 other components including trace elements were studied in precipitation samples for a period of up to 300 days. The concentration of free H⁺ ions is affected after deposition by several processes, the most important being bioconsumption of NH₄⁺ leading to an increase in the H⁺ ion level depending on the length of the sampling interval, the time of year and the way of storing the samples prior to their analysis. It is proposed that, for the purpose of comparing the acidities of precipitation waters and their effects on acidification of the environment, the corrected H⁺ ion concentration (H_c⁺) be calculated from the pH value and the concentrations of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ (H_c⁺ = H⁺+NH₄⁺−NO₃⁻). The H_c⁺ value depends little on the bioconsumption of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ after deposition and thus is not very sensitive to the way of storing the samples, the sampling interval and the time elapsed between deposition and the sample analysis. Dissolution of Fe, Al, Si and some trace elements from the particles scavenged during precipitation was slow in the studied samples; it is advantageous to digest the sample in a microwave oven prior to determination of these elements.