Spectral dependence of aerosol light absorption at an urban and a remote site over the Tibetan Plateau.

We present a study of aerosol light absorption by using a 7-wavelength Aethalometer model AE33 at an urban site (Lhasa) and a remote site (Lulang) in the Tibetan Plateau. Approximately 5 times greater aerosol absorption values were observed at Lhasa (53±46Mm at 370nm and 20±18Mm at 950nm, respectively) in comparison to Lulang (15±19Mm at 370nm and 4±5Mm at 950nm, respectively). Black carbon (BC) was the dominant light absorbing aerosol component at all wavelengths.

Application of direct thermal desorption gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry for determination of nonpolar organics in low-volume samples from ambient particulate matter and personal samplers.

Direct thermal desorption and in-situ derivatization thermal desorption methods in conjunction with gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry have been characterized and evaluated for analysis of trace components from filters loaded with ambient particulate matter (PM). The limits of quantification were in the range of 7-24 pg for n-alkanes, 20 pg for hopanes, and 4-22 pg for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The limit of quantification was defined as the minimum amount of substance that conforms to the minimum distinguishable signal plus 9 times the standard deviation of this background signal from PM-loaded filters.

Comparison of continuous and filter-based carbon measurements at the Fresno supersite.

Results from six continuous and semicontinuous black carbon (BC) and elemental carbon (EC) measurement methods are compared for ambient samples collected from December 2003 through November 2004 at the Fresno Supersite in California. Instruments included a multi-angle absorption photometer (MAAP; lambda = 670 nm); a dual-wavelength (lambda = 370 and 880 nm) aethalometer; seven-color (lambda = 370, 470, 520, 590, 660, 880, and 950 nm) aethalometers; the Sunset Laboratory carbon aerosol analysis field instrument; a photoacoustic light absorption analyzer (lambda = 1047 nm); and the R&P 5400 ambient carbon particulate monitor. All of these acquired BC or EC measurements over periods of 1 min to 1 hr.