Observations of linear dependence between sulfate and nitrate in atmospheric particles

Abstract

Hourly measurements of water-soluble inorganic ionic species in ambient atmospheric particles were conducted at Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou sampling sites in China during the period of 2009-2011. The relation between sulfate and nitrate in particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5 ) was examined based on these measurements. Results showed that the mass fraction of sulfate was strongly negatively correlated with that of nitrate in atmospheric particles on most of the sampling days, especially when sulfate and nitrate made up the vast majority of the total soluble anions and cations (Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ ) made a small contribution to the total water-soluble ions, revealing that the formation mechanisms of sulfate and nitrate in the atmosphere are highly correlated, and there exists a significant negative correlation trend between sulfate and nitrate mass fractions in the atmospheric particles. We found that local meteorological conditions presented opposite influences on the mass fractions of sulfate and nitrate. Further analysis indicated that the two mass fractions were modulated by the neutralizing level of atmospheric aerosols, and the negative correlation could be found in acidic atmospheric particles. Strong negative correlation was usually observed on clear days, hazy days, foggy days, and respirable particulate air pollution days, whereas poor negative correlation was often observed during cloud, rain, snow, dust storm, and suspended dust events. The results can help to better understand the formation mechanisms of atmospheric sulfate and nitrate during air pollution episodes and to better explain field results of atmospheric chemistry concerning sulfate and nitrate.

The Concentrations, Formations, Relationships and Modeling of Sulfate, Nitrate and Ammonium (SNA) Aerosols over China

“…5). It suggests that the results from the former study in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Guangzhou (Kong et al, 2014) are not local phenomena, but a universal rule across the country. The negative correlation signifies that more nitrates will probably be produced when sulfate formation decreases along with the reduction of SO 2 from current emission control strategies.…”

Measurements of PM10 ions and trace gases with the online system MARGA at the research station Melpitz in Germany – A five-year study

“…Young Company, U.S.A. (PT1000 and rain gauge) are used; relative humidity is measured using the CS215 sensor by Sensirion AG, Switzerland; and wind velocity and direction is measured by a WindSonic by Gill Instruments, UK. Global radiation and barometric pressure are recorded by Du et al (2010) Shanghai, CN Ammonium particle-to-gas conversion (2009) Li et al (2010) Shanghai, CN Agricultural fire impacts on the air quality in Shanghai, Summer Harvesttime 2009 Du et al (2011) Shanghai, CN Measurements during haze pollution events in Shanghai (2009) Schaap et al (2011) Cabauw, NL Illustrating the benefit using data with high time resolution for model evaluation (2007 to 2008) Ye et al (2011) Shanghai, CN Role of ammonia on haze formation (2009) Fu et al (2012) Shanghai, CN Morphology, composition and mixing state of carbonaceous aerosol (2010) Makkonen et al (2012) Helsinki, FI Investigation of nitrogen in aerosol and gas phase and aerosol acidity (2009 to 2010) Mensah et al (2012) Cabauw, NL Aerosol measurements in Behera et al (2013 Singapore, SG Coupling among gases and secondary inorganic aerosols (2011) Huang et al (2013) Shanghai, CN Investigation of the aerosol evolution influenced by regional transport (2011) Khezri et al (2013) Singapore, SG Measurements in an industrialized area (2011) Leng et al (2013) Shanghai, CN Surface cloud condensation nuclei and aerosol activity (2010 to 2011) Li et al (2013) Shanghai, CN Role of chemical composition of PM on aerosol single scattering albedo (2010) Phillips et al (2013) Kleiner Feldberg, DE Influence of N 2 O 5 on HNO 3 concentrations measured by alkali-and aqueous-denuder techniques (2012) Wang et al (2013a) Shanghai, CN Anthropogenic pollution and dust plume measurements (2010) Wen and Chen (2013) Jinan, CN Measurements during firework events (2013) Ye et al (2013) Shanghai, CN Investigation of hygroscopic growth of urban aerosol (2009) Zhang et al (2013) Shanghai, CN Urban aerosol during World Expo 2010 Fan et al (2014) Lanzhou, CN Crustal material versus secondary air pollution (2011) Huang et al (2014) Honk Kong, HK Characterization of PM 2.5 , source investigation, receptor modelling study (2011 to 2012) Jansen et al (2014a) Shanghai, CN Impact of ammonia on PM 1 and visibility degradation (2012) Jansen et al (2014b) Hangzhou, CN Role of secondary inorganic aerosol in PM 2.5 during haze and fog (2012) Kong et al (2014) Shanghai, Hangzh...…”

The Impacts of Emission Control and Regional Transport on PM2.5 Ions and Carbon Components in Nanjing during the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games

“…(Ding et al, 2013b;Kong et al, 2014;Xie et al, 2015;Wang et al, 2016). The instrument is comprised of a sampling system and an analytical system.…”