Abstract. Photooxidation products of biogenic volatile organic compounds, mainly isoprene and monoterpenes, are significant sources of atmospheric particulate matter in forested regions. The objectives of this study were to examine time series and diel variations of polar organic tracers for the photooxidation of isoprene and α-pinene to investigate whether they are linked with meteorological parameters or trace gases, and to determine their carbon contributions. In addition, the biogenic secondary organic carbon contributions from isoprene were estimated. PM 2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm) aerosol samples were collected from forests in eastern China and compared with data from forested sites in Europe and America. Aerosol sampling was conducted at four sites located along a gradient of ecological succession in four different regions, i.e. Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve (boreal-temperate), Chongming National Forest Park (temperate), Dinghu Mountain Nature Reserve (subtropical) and Jianfengling Nature Reserve in Hainan (tropical) during summer periods when the meteorological conditions are believed to be favorable for photochemical processes. Fifty PM 2.5 samples were collected; eighteen organic compounds, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon and trace gases were measured. Results indicate that the concentration trends of the secondary organic compounds reflected those of the trace gases and meteorological parameters. Very good correlations between the sum concentrations of isoprene oxidation products and atmoCorrespondence to: W. Wang (wangwu@shu.edu.cn) spheric SO 2 , O 3 , NO 2 , NO x , as well as CO 2 , at the Changbai site were found. The secondary OC due to isoprene was relatively high in tropical Hainan (0.27 µgC/m 3 ) where isoprene-emitting broadleaf species are dominant, but was comparable in boreal Changbai (0.32 µgC/m 3 ) where coniferous species are prevalent. The contribution of malic acid, which may have both biogenic and anthropogenic sources, to the OC mass was comparable at the four sites.

Total suspended particulate (TSP) samples were collected during wintertime from November 24, 1998 to February 12, 1999 in Beijing. Ionic species including Cl-, NO3(-), SO4(2-), Na+, NH4(+), K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ were determined by Ion Chromatography (IC). The sum average concentration of all the determined ions accounted for 18.9% of the TSP concentration, and SO4(2-) appeared the dominant ion with an average concentration of 30.84 microg m(-3); the sum mass concentration of SO4(2-), NO3(-), Ca2+ and NH4(+) accounted for about 83.2% of all the eight ions measured. The study indicated that the chemical form of sulfate and ammonium varies with TSP concentration levels. During heavy pollution periods, the average TSP concentration was 0.66 mg m(-3), and the NH4(+)/SO4(2-) molar ratio was low (0.58). It indicated that sulfate may present as CaSO4 and (NH4)2SO4 x CaSO4 x 2H2O. When TSP concentration (average 0.186 mg m(-3)) was relatively low, the NH4(+)/SO4(2-) molar ratio was 1.94, close to the theoretical ratio of 2 of (NH4)2SO4. Under this condition (NH4)2SO4 is expected to exist as the major form of sulfate. When the TSP concentration level was medium (average 0.35 mg m(-3)), the NH4+/SO4(2-) molar ratio appeared an average value (1.27), (NH4)2SO4, (NH4)2SO4 x CaSO4 x 2H2O and CaSO4 are expected to be present in those aerosol particles. Meteorological conditions including wind speed and wind direction were related to the TSP concentration level.

Aerosol samples were collected during the wintertime from Nov. 24, 1998 to Feb. 12, 1999 in Beijing, China. Chemical composition was determined using several analytical techniques, including inductive coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) for trace elements, ion chromatography (IC) for water-soluble ions and CHN elemental analyzer for organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC). The average concentration of aerosol was 375 ± 169 μg m −3 , ranging from 136 to 759 μg m −3 . Multilinear regression (MLR) analysis was performed and crustal matter, secondary particles and organics were identified as three major components of aerosol in wintertime in Beijing, accounting for 57.3% ± 9.8%, 13.4% ± 8.0%, and 22.8% ± 5.9% of the total concentration, respectively. Based on performance evaluation, Al, SO 4 2− and OC were selected as tracers of the three components, with the regression coefficients of 23.5, 1.78 and 1.26, respectively. A regression constant of 19.6 was obtained, which accounts for other minor components in aerosol. On average 93.5% of the total aerosol concentration, ranging from 82% to 105%, was explained by crustal matter, secondary particle and organics. Meteorological conditions are important factors that can influence the concentration level and chemical composition of aerosols. Wind would be favorable for the pollutant dilution, leading to low aerosol levels, whereas too strong a wind may cause regional soil dust and local road dust to be resuspended resulting in a high contribution of crustal matter. Circuitous air movement, high RH% and low wind speed facilitated the secondary particle formation, not only inorganic salts, such as sulfate and nitrate, but also secondary organic carbon in a similar way.

Abstract. Size-selective atmospheric aerosol samples, collected between March 28 and April 8 2002 in Changdao, a small island in eastern China, were characterized by analysis of elements, ions, organic and elemental carbon, lead isotopes, and single particles. On the basis of compositional differences and remote sensing information, three distinct aerosol pollution episodes were identified. The first was dominated by fine particles with a substantial contribution from biomass burning emissions and industrial lead-containing particles from inland China at least 800 kilometers away. The second was characterized by coarse and aged secondary calcium sulfate particles and primary calcium sulfate particles from local industrial sources as well as windblown mineral dust. The third was a typical Asian Dust event with a source region on the border between China and Mongolia at a distance of around 1000 kilometers. Abundant sulfate particles found at the beginning of the Asian Dust event were predominantly ammonium sulfates in the fine fraction and calcium and ammonium sulfates in the coarse fraction. The major portion of the pollutants and the dust front of the event arrived in separate air masses. Although the three events occurred in quick succession they were quite different in terms of size distribution, chemical composition, sulfate speciation, source types, and source geographic locations. Biomass burning, industrial emission, coal combustion, and mineral dusts were identified as sources of the Asian continental outflow.