Determination of the atmospheric formation and flux of sulfate and nitrate in Chicago

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:166514

Khalili, N R ^[1]; Lestari, P; Noll, K E; Holsen, T M

---

1. Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL (United States)

Ambient aerosol in the size range 0.1 to 100 {mu}m was sampled and atmospheric flux and size distribution of total particulate mass and major ionic species; sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, calcium, and sodium were measured during Spring, Summer and Fall of 1994. Sampling site was Chicago, Illinois. Samples were collected using a wide range aerosol classifier system (Noll Rotary Impactor (NRI) and Cascade Impactor) and analyzed utilizing ion chromatographic (IC) method. Dry deposition flux of particles were simultaneously measured with a knife edged surrogate surface containing greased myler films. Measured sulfate dry deposition fluxes were, 2.48, 0.95, and 0.52 percent of the total particle flux for Spring, Summer and Fall, respectively. Nitrate dry deposition fluxes contributed to the 2.47, 0.62 and 0.31 percent of the total particle flux. Data analysis showed that sulfate and nitrate exist in both fine and coarse particles and their mass size distribution follows a bi-modal distribution. Sulfate particles had mass median diameters (MMDs) of 0.45 and 6.0 to 9.0 {mu}m. Nitrate MMDs were, 0.5 and 6.0 {mu}m. A simple Pearson correlation analysis showed that concentration of particulate sulfate in the size range of 0. 1 to 0.65, and 0.65 to 2.2 {mu}m are highly related to the temperature, radiation and atmospheric ozone concentration. Particulate sulfate in the range of 0.1 to 0.43 and 5.8 to 6.5 {mu}m showed high correlation with atmospheric concentration of SO2. Particulate nitrate concentration in the size range of 3.3 to 5.8 {mu}m was highly related to the atmospheric NOx concentration.

• OSTI ID: 166514
• Report Number(s): CONF-9510126--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHICAGO
DATA ANALYSIS
DEPOSITION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
NITRATES
PARTICLE SIZE
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SULFATES