Aerosol hygroscopicity is a key aerosol property, influencing a number of other physical properties, and the impacts of PM pollution on the environment, climate change, and health. The present work aims to provide insight into the contribution of major PM sources to aerosol hygroscopicity, focusing on an urban background site, with a significant impact from both primary and secondary sources. The EPA PMF 5.0 model was applied to PM2.5 chemical composition and hygroscopicity data collected from August 2016 to July 2017 in Athens, Greece. Source apportionment analysis resulted in six major sources, including four anthropogenic sources (vehicular exhaust and non-exhaust, heavy oil combustion, and a mixed source of secondary aerosol formation and biomass burning) and two natural sources (mineral dust and aged sea salt). The mixed source was found to be the main contributor to PM2.5 levels (44%), followed by heavy oil combustion (26%) and vehicular traffic exhaust and non-exhaust emissions (15%). The aerosol hygroscopic growth factor (GF) was found to be mainly associated with the mixed source (by 36%) and heavy oil combustion (by 24%) and, to a lesser extent, with vehicle exhaust (by 19%), aged sea salt (by 14%), and vehicle non-exhaust (by 6%).
Abstract. The hygroscopic properties of atmospheric aerosol were investigated at a suburban environment in Athens, Greece, from August 2016 to July 2017. The growth factor distribution probability density function (GF-PDF) and mixing state were determined with a hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyser (HTDMA). Four dry particle sizes (D0) were selected to be analysed in terms of their hygroscopic properties at 90 % relative humidity. The annual mean GFs for D0 = 30, 50, 80 and 250 nm were found to be equal to 1.28, 1.11, 1.13 and 1.22, respectively. The hygroscopic growth spectra were divided into two distinct hygroscopic ranges: a non- and/or slightly hygroscopic mode (GF < 1.12) and a moderately hygroscopic mode (GF > 1.12), which are representative of a suburban environment influenced by local/urban emissions and background aerosol. The standard deviation σ of the GF-PDF was employed as a measure of the mixing state of ambient aerosol. The 30 nm particles were mostly internally mixed, whereas larger particles were found to be externally mixed, either with a distinct bimodal structure or with partly overlapping modes. Cluster analysis on the hourly dry number size distributions was performed to identify the link between aerosol hygroscopicity and aerosol emission sources and formation processes. The size distributions were classified into five groups, with the “mixed urban and regional background” aerosol (67 %) and the “fresh traffic-related particles” from the neighbourhood urban area (15 %) accounting for more than 80 % of the results. The hygroscopic properties for 50 and 80 nm were found to be similar in all cases, indicating particles of similar nature and origin across these sizes. This was also confirmed through the modal analysis of the average number size distributions for each cluster; the 50 and 80 nm particles were found to belong to the same Aitken mode in most cases. The 250 nm particles (i.e. accumulation mode) were generally more hygroscopic than Aitken particles but less hygroscopic than the 30 nm particles (nuclei mode).
Abstract. The hygroscopic properties of atmospheric aerosol were investigated at a suburban environment in Athens, Greece, from August 2016 to July 2017. The Growth Factor Distribution Probability Density Function, (GF-PDF), and mixing state were determined with a Hygroscopicity Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer, (HTDMA). Four dry particle sizes, (D0), were selected to be analyzed in terms of their hygroscopic properties at 90 % relative humidity. The annual mean GFs for D0 = 30, 50, 80, and 250 nm, were found to be equal to 1.28, 1.11, 1.14, and 1.22 respectively. The hygroscopic growth spectra can be divided into two distinct hygroscopic ranges; a non or slightly hygroscopic mode (GF ˂ 1.12) and a moderately hygroscopic mode (GF ˃ 1.12), which are representative of a suburban environment influenced by local/regional emissions and background aerosol. The standard deviation σ of the GF-PDF was employed as a measure of the mixing state of ambient aerosol. The 30 nm particles were mostly internally mixed, whereas larger particles were found to be externally mixed, with either a distinct bimodal structure or with partly overlapping modes. Cluster analysis on the hourly dry number size distributions measured in parallel, provided the link between aerosol hygroscopicity and growth/evaporation dynamics. The size distributions were classified into five groups, with the “mixed, urban and aerosol background” (67 %) and “urban-nocturnal” aerosol (12 %) to account for 79 % of the results. The hygroscopic properties for 50 nm and 80 nm were found to be similar in all cases, indicating particles of similar nature and origin across these sizes. This was also confirmed through the modal analysis of the average number size distributions for each cluster; the 50 nm and 80 nm particles were found to belong to the same Aitken mode in most cases. The 250 nm particles (i.e. accumulation mode) were generally more hygroscopic than Aitken particles, but less hygroscopic than the 30 nm particles (nuclei mode).
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