Journal
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
Volume 280, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.119139
Keywords
Carbonaceous aerosols; Biomass burning; Levoglucosan; WSOC; Heterogeneous chemistry; Greece
Funding
- project PANhellenic infrastructure for Atmospheric Composition and climatE change [MIS 5021516]
- Operational Programme Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation (NSRF 2014-2020)
- European Union (European Regional Development Fund)
- European Research Council [726165]
- European Research Council (ERC) [726165] Funding Source: European Research Council (ERC)
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This study investigated the concentrations and characteristics of carbonaceous aerosols and inorganic species in a mountainous city in Greece. It found high concentrations of organic carbon and levoglucosan in winter, with a high proportion of water-soluble organic carbon potentially formed from fast oxidation processes. Using a levoglucosan tracer method, the study estimated high contributions of biomass burning to organic carbon in winter. In summer, the levels of carbonaceous components were low, with a higher proportion of water-soluble organic carbon.
This study examines the concentrations and characteristics of carbonaceous aerosols (including saccharides) and inorganic species measured by PM2.5 filter sampling and a multi-wavelength Aethalometer during two campaigns in a mountainous, medium-sized, Greek city (Ioannina). The first campaign was conducted in summer and used as a baseline of low concentrations, while the second took place in winter under intensive residential wood burning (RWB) emissions. Very high winter-mean OC concentrations (26.0 mu gm(-3)) were observed, associated with an OC/EC ratio of 9.9, and mean BCwb and PM2.5 levels of 4.5 mu gm(-3) and 57.5 mu gm(-3), respectively. Simultaneously, record-high levoglucosan (Lev) concentrations (mean: 6.0 mu gm(-3); max: 15.9 mu gm(-3)) were measured, revealing a severely biomass burning (BB)-laden environment. The water-soluble OC component (WSOC) accounted for 56 +/- 9% of OC in winter, exhibiting high correlations (R2 = 0.93-0.97) with BB tracers (nss-K+, BCwb, Lev), nitrate and light absorption, potentially indicating the formation of water-soluble brown carbon (BrC) from fast oxidation processes. The examination of diagnostic ratios involving BB tracers indicated the prevalence of hardwood burning, while the mean Lev/OC ratio (22%) was remarkably higher than literature values. Applying a mono-tracer method based on levoglucosan, we estimated very high BB contributions to OC (-92%), EC (-64%) and WSOC (-87%) during winter. On the contrary, low levels were registered during summer for all carbonaceous components, with winter/summer ratios of 4-5 for PM2.5 and BC, 10 for OC, 30 for BCwb and-1100 for levoglucosan. The absence of local BB sources in summer, combined with the photochemical processing and aging of regional organic aerosols, resulted in higher WSOC/OC fractions (64 +/- 13%). The results indicate highly soluble fine carbonaceous aerosol fraction year-round, which when considered alongside the extreme concentration levels in winter can have important implications for short-and long-term health effects.
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