Ambient Sulfate Measurements on Allegheny Mountain and the Question of Atmospheric Sulfate in the Northeastern United States

Mass and Elemental Composition of Fine and Coarse Particles in Six U.S. Cities

“…Normally, urban sulfates correspond to ammonium sulfate, although sulfuric acid, ammonium bisulfate and other sulfate species have also been measured. 35 - 36 Steubenville has the highest mean concentration of elemental sulfur (5.45 ^g/m 3 ), with 86% appearing in the FP mass. Kingston and Harriman have the second highest sulfur concentration, with approximately 93% in the FP mass.…”

Characteristics of Individual Particles at a Rural Site in the Eastern United States

“…In an earlier study by Pierson, et al at the Allegheny Mountain site in southwestern Pennsylvania (see Figure 1), the dominant chemical feature of the aerosol was the stoichiometric balance of the SO4 anion with NHj and H+ cations; H + was the more abundant cation when sulfate levels were high. 16 Moreover, sulfate and its associated NH^, H + , and water constituted nearly all of the aerosol fine mass. 16 Data from rural areas in the Ohio River Valley showed that during extreme events in August 1980, sulfur expressed as ammonium sulfate accounted for 80 percent of fine particle mass (<2.5-MHI aerodynamic diameter).…”

“…16 Moreover, sulfate and its associated NH^, H + , and water constituted nearly all of the aerosol fine mass. 16 Data from rural areas in the Ohio River Valley showed that during extreme events in August 1980, sulfur expressed as ammonium sulfate accounted for 80 percent of fine particle mass (<2.5-MHI aerodynamic diameter). 17 On the average during the summer period, sulfur expressed as ammonium sulfate constituted about 60 percent of the fine mass, and the crustal elements plus their related oxides accounted for 3 to 4 percent.…”

Artifact Formation of Sulfate, Nitrate, and Hydrogen Ion on Backup Filters: Allegheny Mountain Experiment

“…Each HiVol was equipped with two filters in tandem; artifacts were evaluated (1) from the analysis of the HiVol backup filters, and (2) by comparing the HiVol front filters with each other and with the Fluoropore filters. The 25 mm Fluoropore, unlike the others, was not replaced on a 12 hr schedule but rather was allowed to span many 12 hr periods in order to evaluate the extent to which NC>3~ (true and artifact) can be suppressed in long-term sampling owing to metathetical loss, e.g., H2SO4 + NOg--HNOgj + HSO4- (1) This loss proved to be considerable. 1 Such loss could have been anticipated in view of the strong H2SO4 acidity of the aerosol and relatively meager NO3~ amounts collected.…”

“…1 As an adjunct to that experiment, artifact H + and S0 4 = were evaluated on several filter types. Some'data were also obtained for artifact NO3-.…”