The relationships between the chemical composition of fine particles and visibility in the Detroit metropolitan area

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1982.10465534· OSTI ID:5353759

Wolff, G T; Ferman, M A; Kelly, N A; Stroup, D P; Ruthkosky, M S

During July 1981, a one week intensive study was conducted to determine the identity of the major visibility-reducing species in Detroit's summertime atmosphere. To accomplish this goal, fine particulate samples were collected every 4 h and analyzed for sulfates, nitrates, ammonium, elemental and organic carbon, and trace metals. These species were then related statistically to the light scattering and absorption components of the extinction coefficient. The chemical composition of the aerosol during the study appeared to be representative of the summertime aerosol. The fine particle mass, which accounted for 64% of the total mass less than 15 ..mu..m in diameter, was dominated by ammonium sulfate which comprised 50% of the fine mass. The contributors to the observed light extinction were: sulfate and its associated water, 65%; carbon, 20%; Rayleigh scattering, 7%; NO/sub 2/, 4%; and other fine particulate species, 4%. The regression coefficients used to derive these percentages are in excellent agreement with the coefficients derived for other locations. In addition, the results support our previous finding that sulfates are the most efficient light-scattering species per unit mass of dry weight.

• Research Organization: General Motors Research Lab., Warren, MI
• OSTI ID: 5353759
• Journal Information: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 32:12; ISSN JPCAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABSORPTION
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM SULFATES
CARBON
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION V
LIGHT SCATTERING
MASS
MICHIGAN
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLLUTION
SAMPLING
SCATTERING
SOLS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRACE AMOUNTS
URBAN AREAS
USA
VISIBILITY