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Title: Optical, Physical and Chemical Properties of Tar Balls Observed During the Yosemite Aerosol Characterization Study

Abstract

The Yosemite Aerosol Characterization Study of summer 2002 (YACS) occurred during an active fire season in the western U. S., and provided an opportunity to investigate many unresolved issues related to the radiative effects of biomass burning aerosols. Single particle analysis was performed on field collected aerosol samples using an array of electron microscopy techniques. Amorphous carbon spheres, or “tar balls”, were present in samples collected during episodes of high particle light scattering coefficients that occurred during the peak of a smoke/haze event. The highest concentrations of light-absorbing carbon from a dual-wavelength aethalometer (λ = 370 and 880 nm) occurred during periods when the particles were predominantly tar balls, indicating they do absorb light in the UV and near-IR range of the solar spectrum. Closure experiments of mass concentrations and light scattering coefficients during periods dominated by tar balls did not require any distinct assumptions of organic carbon molecular weight correction factors, density, or refractive index compared to periods dominated by other types of organic carbon aerosols. Measurements of the hygroscopic behavior of tar balls using an environmental SEM indicate that tar balls do not exhibit deliquescence, but do uptake some water at high (~83 %) relative humidity. The abilitymore » of tar balls to efficiently scatter and absorb light, and to absorb water has important implications for their role in regional haze and climate fence.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
876951
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-46153
Journal ID: ISSN 0747-7309; 1722; 4997; KP1704020; TRN: US200608%%106
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 110; Journal ID: ISSN 0747-7309
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
09 BIOMASS FUELS; AEROSOLS; BIOMASS; CARBON; CHEMICAL PROPERTIES; CLIMATES; CLOSURES; ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; HUMIDITY; LIGHT SCATTERING; MOLECULAR WEIGHT; REFRACTIVE INDEX; SEASONS; TAR; WATER; Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Citation Formats

Hand, Jenny L, Malm, W C, Laskin, Alexander, Day, D E, Lee, Tae-bum, Wang, Chong M, Carrico, C E, Carrillo, John R, Cowin, James P, Collett, J G, and Iedema, Martin J. Optical, Physical and Chemical Properties of Tar Balls Observed During the Yosemite Aerosol Characterization Study. United States: N. p., 2005. Web. doi:10.1029/2004JD005728.
Hand, Jenny L, Malm, W C, Laskin, Alexander, Day, D E, Lee, Tae-bum, Wang, Chong M, Carrico, C E, Carrillo, John R, Cowin, James P, Collett, J G, & Iedema, Martin J. Optical, Physical and Chemical Properties of Tar Balls Observed During the Yosemite Aerosol Characterization Study. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JD005728
Hand, Jenny L, Malm, W C, Laskin, Alexander, Day, D E, Lee, Tae-bum, Wang, Chong M, Carrico, C E, Carrillo, John R, Cowin, James P, Collett, J G, and Iedema, Martin J. 2005. "Optical, Physical and Chemical Properties of Tar Balls Observed During the Yosemite Aerosol Characterization Study". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JD005728.
@article{osti_876951,
title = {Optical, Physical and Chemical Properties of Tar Balls Observed During the Yosemite Aerosol Characterization Study},
author = {Hand, Jenny L and Malm, W C and Laskin, Alexander and Day, D E and Lee, Tae-bum and Wang, Chong M and Carrico, C E and Carrillo, John R and Cowin, James P and Collett, J G and Iedema, Martin J},
abstractNote = {The Yosemite Aerosol Characterization Study of summer 2002 (YACS) occurred during an active fire season in the western U. S., and provided an opportunity to investigate many unresolved issues related to the radiative effects of biomass burning aerosols. Single particle analysis was performed on field collected aerosol samples using an array of electron microscopy techniques. Amorphous carbon spheres, or “tar balls”, were present in samples collected during episodes of high particle light scattering coefficients that occurred during the peak of a smoke/haze event. The highest concentrations of light-absorbing carbon from a dual-wavelength aethalometer (λ = 370 and 880 nm) occurred during periods when the particles were predominantly tar balls, indicating they do absorb light in the UV and near-IR range of the solar spectrum. Closure experiments of mass concentrations and light scattering coefficients during periods dominated by tar balls did not require any distinct assumptions of organic carbon molecular weight correction factors, density, or refractive index compared to periods dominated by other types of organic carbon aerosols. Measurements of the hygroscopic behavior of tar balls using an environmental SEM indicate that tar balls do not exhibit deliquescence, but do uptake some water at high (~83 %) relative humidity. The ability of tar balls to efficiently scatter and absorb light, and to absorb water has important implications for their role in regional haze and climate fence.},
doi = {10.1029/2004JD005728},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/876951}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres},
issn = {0747-7309},
number = ,
volume = 110,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Nov 09 00:00:00 EST 2005},
month = {Wed Nov 09 00:00:00 EST 2005}
}