Chemical Characteristics of Ambient Aerosol during Asian Dusts and High PM Episodes at Seoul Intensive Monitoring Site in 2009

This study aimed to show the chemical characteristics of PM10 and PM2.5 during Asian dust (AD) events and high PM episodes observed in Seoul. Time-resolved chemical composition of PM10 or PM2.5 was monitored in 1 hour interval using ambient ion monitor, semi-continuous carbon monitor, and on-line XRF spectrometer at Seoul intensive monitoring site in 2009. Considering that AD events were classified into three different cases according to the source area and pathway, the concentrations of ammonium-sulfate and trace metal components were relatively high when the AD were occurred in Gobi and inner-mongolia and transported across the Bohai bay. In addition, the influence of alkaline dust, which carried from saline land located in the northeastern China, was observed when the AD was originated from Gobi, inner-mongolia, and Manchuria. Except AD events, the high PM episodes observed in Seoul were impacted by various anthropogenic sources such as biomass burning, motor vehicle, oil combustion and road dust.