Particle bound black carbon size distribution and mixing state in urban environments using a novel tandem differential mobility analyzer and aethalometer

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary WorksRGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)peer-review

View graph of relations

Author(s)

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEGU General Assembly 2013
Place of PublicationMunich
PublisherEuropean Geosciences Union
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2013

Publication series

NameGeophysical Research Abstracts (GRA)
Volume15
ISSN (electronic)1607-7962

Conference

TitleEuropean Geosciences Union General Assembly 2013, EGU 2013
PlaceAustria
CityVienna
Period7 - 12 April 2013

Abstract

Particle bound black carbon (BC) has dominant anthropogenic origins from fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning sources. It is an important component of the light absorbing aerosols in the atmosphere, playing a role in the earth’s radiative balance and climate change. While the mixing states of the BC largely determine the coating on the particles, knowledge of the size distribution of BC is key to the accurate modelling of their absorption of solar radiation. Also, BC is a major component of the diesel PM emissions, recently classified by World Health Organization as Category I Carcinogen, and has been widely documented with association of a variety of adverse health effects. Their sizes also determine the fraction of lung deposition. Due to the limited information of the mixing state and size distribution of BC, there still exists large uncertainty of the role of BC in climate change modelling. This study presents a novel approach of the direct and continuous measurement of atmospheric BC size distribution and coating by tandem operation of a differential mobility analyzer and a modified aethalometer. A condensation particle counter was deployed concurrently with the aethalometer to determine the particle number size distribution. Particle coating on BC was further estimated. A wide range of particle sizes (15-700nm) was investigated to determine the BC mass size distribution in fresh diesel engine tailpipe emissions and different ambient environments including urban and roadside. The results showed the evolution of BC mixing state and size distribution from fresh engine emissions to the roadside and urban ambient environments. The results provide important references for climate modelling to better determine the effect of radiative forcing from urban aerosols.

Citation Format(s)

Particle bound black carbon size distribution and mixing state in urban environments using a novel tandem differential mobility analyzer and aethalometer. / Ning, Zhi; Westerdahl, Dane; Wong, Ka-Chun et al.
EGU General Assembly 2013. Munich: European Geosciences Union, 2013. EGU2013-13837 (Geophysical Research Abstracts (GRA); Vol. 15).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary WorksRGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)peer-review