Chemical properties of tropospheric sulfur aerosols

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Atmos. Environ.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6099003

Charlson, R J; Covert, D S

A review showed that sulfur, largely in the form of the sulfate ion, is a substance which frequently governs the physicochemical nature of submicrometer particles. In the eastern third of the US, the accumulation mode aerosol can be described semiquantitatively (with respect to its chemistry) as a collection of particles composed of impure sulfate compounds ranging from H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ to (NH/sub 4/)/sub 2/SO/sub 4/. The impurities include metals, inorganic ions, e.g., nitrate, and a wide variety of trace organic compounds. These substances are on the average mixed internally rather than externally. Sulfate compounds as well as other substances and impurities cause the submicrometer particles to accumulate relatively large amounts of liquid water. The review also covers the role and importance of the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosol particles; molecular forms of sulfur in tropospheric aerosols; the hygroscopic properties of sulfate aerosols; refractive index effects of sulfur in aerosols; and substance coexisting with sulfur in tropospheric aerosols. Flow diagram, tables, graphs, and 59 references were included.

• OSTI ID: 6099003
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Atmos. Environ.; (United States) Journal Volume: 12:1-3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM SULFATES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYGROSCOPICITY
INORGANIC ACIDS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICLES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLLUTION
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
REFRACTIVITY
SIZE
SOLS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFURIC ACID