The elemental composition of airborne particulate matter in the Atacama desert, Chile

Rojas, Carlos M.; Figueroa, Lucía I. C. de; Janssens, Koen; Espen, P.E. Van; Adams, F.; Grieken, R.E. Van

doi:10.1016/0048-9697(90)90302-b

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…4b), suggesting that Ca and sulfate are not completely coupled in airborne particles. In a previous study further north and inland, a similar pattern was observed (although concentrations were lower) in samples of sized airborne particles, collected in 17-day samples over a 31-month interval, (Rojas et al, 1990). Here, while submicron sulfate could not be well quantified due to likely sampling artifacts discussed above, low Ca relative to S in the fine fraction suggests that the sulfate present is likely balanced (in charge) by ammonium or Na (Seinfeld and Pandis, 1998).…”

Section: Sulfate and Calciumsupporting

confidence: 82%

A threshold in soil formation at Earth’s arid–hyperarid transition

Ewing

Sutter

Owen

et al. 2006

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

237

245

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Section: Sulfate and Calciumsupporting

confidence: 82%

A threshold in soil formation at Earth’s arid–hyperarid transition

Ewing

Sutter

Owen

et al. 2006

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

237

245

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“…With these EF plateau levels for all elements one may proceed with a renormalization of the reference source elemental ratios, i.e., to calculate the effective characteristic ratios that give unitary EF for samples at the plateau, as they represent the local soil dust aerosol source deposited at Illimani. levels, the elemental concentration ratios to Al in the original soil composition source by Bowen (1979), several measurements of aerosol elemental concentrations ratios in Andean sites (Lawson and Winchester, 1979;Adams et al, 1977;Adams et al, 1980;Rojas et al, 1990), and also the values of elemental ratios to Al, calculated by the procedure depicted above for characterizing the soil dust aerosol deposited in Illimani ice core. Most elements present EF plateau levels within a factor of two above or below the mean soil composition, with exceptions of high EF like As (9.95), Na (3.51) and Li (2.62), but also with low EF plateaus like Ni (0.261) and Zr (0.259).…”

Section: Enrichment Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Notice, in particular, the high ratios for Cu/Al in Chile (Atacama) and Pb/Al in Bolivia (Chacaltaya), due to anthropogenic activities in the region. Almost all measured elements at Atacama desert by Rojas et al (1990), except for Pb and Zn, present higher concentrations relative to Al than Bolivian determinations, due to the existence of a significant source of heavy metals in Chile linked to Cu production (Hong et al, 1996).…”

Section: Enrichment Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace elements in South America aerosol during 20<sup>th</sup> century inferred from a Nevado Illimani ice core, Eastern Bolivian Andes (6350 m a.s.l.)

Correia¹,

Freydier²,

Delmas³

et al. 2003

Preprint

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Abstract. A 137 m ice core drilled in 1999 from Eastern Bolivian Andes at the summit of Nevado Illimani (16° 37' S, 67° 46' W, 6350 m a.s.l.) was analyzed at high temporal resolution, allowing a characterization of trace elements in Andean aerosol trapped in the ice during the 20th century. The upper 50 m of the ice core were dated by multi-proxy analysis of stable isotopes (d18O and d2H), 137Cs and Ca+2 content, electrical conductivity, and insoluble microparticle content, together with reference historical horizons from atmospheric nuclear tests and known volcanic eruptions. This 50 m section corresponds to a record of environmental variations spanning about 80 years from 1919 to 1999. It was cut in 744 sub-samples under laminar flow in a clean bench, which were analyzed by Ion Chromatography for major ionic concentration, by a particle counter for insoluble aerosol content, and by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the concentration of 45 chemical species from Li to U. This paper focuses on results of trace element concentrations measured by ICP-MS. The high temporal resolution used in the analyses allowed classifying samples as belonging to dry or wet seasons. During wet season elemental concentrations are low and samples show high crustal enrichment factors. During dry seasons the situation is opposite, with high elemental concentrations and low crustal enrichments. For example, with salt lakes as main sources in the region, average Li concentration during the 20th century is 0.035 and 0.90 ng g−1 for wet and dry seasons, respectively. Illimani average seasonal concentration ranges cover the spectrum of elemental concentration measurements at another Andean ice core site (Sajama) for most soil-related elements. Regional crustal dust load in the deposits was found to be overwhelming during dry season, obfuscating the contribution of biomass burning material. Marked temporal trends from the onset of 20th century to more recent years were identified for the concentrations of several trace species of anthropic origin, especially for Cu, As, Zn, Cd, Co, Ni and Cr. Among these elements, Cu shows average wet season crustal enrichment factors above 103, while the others range between 102 to about 5×102. P and K show moderate average wet season enrichment factors, suggesting an impact of natural biogenic emissions from the Amazon Basin. Pb has multiple anthropic sources in the region, from mining activities in the beginning of 20th century to automotive fuel after 1950's. From the large number of samples analyzed from Illimani, it was possible to derive an effective chemical characterization of the deposited background Andean soil dust aerosol during 20th century.

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Section: Characterization Of Regional Soil Dust Aerosolmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Table 4 summarizes these results for all measured elements with three significant figures, showing the calculated EF plateau levels, the elemental concentration ratios to Al in the original soil composition source by Bowen (1979), several measurements of aerosol elemental concentrations ratios in Andean sites (Lawson and Winchester, 1979;Adams et al, 1977;Adams et al, 1980;Rojas et al, 1990), and also the values of elemental ratios to Al, calculated by the procedure depicted above for characterizing the soil dust aerosol deposited in Illimani ice core.…”

Section: Characterization Of Regional Soil Dust Aerosolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace elements in South America aerosol during 20th century inferred from a Nevado Illimani ice core, Eastern Bolivian Andes (6350 m asl)

et al. 2003

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract.A 137 m ice core drilled in 1999 from Eastern Bolivian Andes at the summit of Nevado Illimani (16 • 37' S, 67 • 46' W, 6350 m asl) was analyzed at high temporal resolution, allowing a characterization of trace elements in Andean aerosol trapped in the ice during the 20th century. The upper 50 m of the ice core were dated by multi-proxy analysis of stable isotopes (δ 18 O and δ 2 H), 137 Cs and Ca +2 content, electrical conductivity, and insoluble microparticle content, together with reference historical horizons from atmospheric nuclear tests and known volcanic eruptions. This 50 m section corresponds to a record of environmental variations spanning about 80 years from 1919 to 1999. It was cut in 744 sub-samples under laminar flow in a clean bench, which were analyzed by Ion Chromatography for major ionic concentration, by a particle counter for insoluble aerosol content, and by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the concentration of 45 chemical species from Li to U. This paper focuses on results of trace element concentrations measured by ICP-MS. The high temporal resolution used in the analyses allowed classifying samples as belonging to dry or wet seasons. During wet season elemental concentrations are low and samples show high crustal enrichment factors. During dry seasons the situation is opposite, with high elemental concentrations and low crustal enrichments. For example, with salt lakes as main sources in the region, average Li concentration during the 20th century is 0.035 and 0.90 ng g −1 for wet and dry seasons, respectively. Illimani average seasonal concentration ranges cover the spectrum of elemental concentration measurements at another Andean ice core site (Sajama) for most soil-related elements. Regional crustal dust load in the deposits was Correspondence to: A. Correia (acorreia@if.usp.br) found to be overwhelming during dry season, obfuscating the contribution of biomass burning material. Marked temporal trends from the onset of 20th century to more recent years were identified for the concentrations of several trace species of anthropic origin, especially for Cu, As, Zn, Cd, Co, Ni and Cr. Among these elements, Cu shows average wet season crustal enrichment factors above 10 3 , while the others range between 10 2 to about 5×10 2 . P and K show moderate average wet season enrichment factors, suggesting an impact of natural biogenic emissions from the Amazon Basin. Pb has multiple anthropic sources in the region, from mining activities in the beginning of 20th century to automotive fuel after 1950s. From the large number of samples analyzed from Illimani, it was possible to derive an effective chemical characterization of the deposited background Andean soil dust aerosol during 20th century.

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The elemental composition of airborne particulate matter in the Atacama desert, Chile

Cited by 15 publications

References 24 publications

A threshold in soil formation at Earth’s arid–hyperarid transition

A threshold in soil formation at Earth’s arid–hyperarid transition

Trace elements in South America aerosol during 20<sup>th</sup> century inferred from a Nevado Illimani ice core, Eastern Bolivian Andes (6350 m a.s.l.)

Trace elements in South America aerosol during 20th century inferred from a Nevado Illimani ice core, Eastern Bolivian Andes (6350 m asl)

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The elemental composition of airborne particulate matter in the Atacama desert, Chile

Cited by 15 publications

References 24 publications

A threshold in soil formation at Earth’s arid–hyperarid transition

A threshold in soil formation at Earth’s arid–hyperarid transition

Trace elements in South America aerosol during 20&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; century inferred from a Nevado Illimani ice core, Eastern Bolivian Andes (6350 m a.s.l.)

Trace elements in South America aerosol during 20th century inferred from a Nevado Illimani ice core, Eastern Bolivian Andes (6350 m asl)

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Trace elements in South America aerosol during 20<sup>th</sup> century inferred from a Nevado Illimani ice core, Eastern Bolivian Andes (6350 m a.s.l.)