The Relationships Between the Chemical Composition of Fine Particles and Visibility in the Detroit Metropolitan Area

Autor: Martin A. Ferman, George T. Wolff, Nelson A. Kelly, David P. Stroup, Martin S. Ruthkosky
Rok vydání: 1982
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association. 32:1216-1220
ISSN: 0002-2470
DOI: 10.1080/00022470.1982.10465534
Popis: During July 1981, a one week intensive study was conducted to determine the identity of the major visibility-reducing species in Detroit's summertime atmosphere. To accomplish this goal, fine particulate samples were collected every 4 h and analyzed for sulfates, nitrates, ammonium, elemental and organic carbon, and trace metals. These species were then related statistically to the light scattering and absorption components of the extinction coefficient. The chemical composition of the aerosol during the study appeared to be representative of the summertime aerosol. The fine particle mass, which accounted for 64% of the total mass less than 15 ..mu..m in diameter, was dominated by ammonium sulfate which comprised 50% of the fine mass. The contributors to the observed light extinction were: sulfate and its associated water, 65%; carbon, 20%; Rayleigh scattering, 7%; NO/sub 2/, 4%; and other fine particulate species, 4%. The regression coefficients used to derive these percentages are in excellent agreement with the coefficients derived for other locations. In addition, the results support our previous finding that sulfates are the most efficient light-scattering species per unit mass of dry weight.
Databáze: OpenAIRE