Measurements of carbonaceous aerosol across the US: sources and role in visibility degradation

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6587512

Shah, J J

This dissertation has three sections which cover analytical measurements, source apportionment, and visibility impact of carbonaceous aerosols. The samples from 46 urban and 20 rural National Air Surveillance Network (NASN) sites were analyzed for organic, elemental, and carbonate carbon to establish a data base for carbonaceous aerosol. Exploratory data analysis was performed on the NASN results to gain an understanding of the nature, magnitude, and relationship of carbon with other constituents of ambient aerosol. Urban centers with high carbonaceous aerosol concentration were Burbank, Chicago, Dallas, East Chicago, Gary, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Pasadena, Phoenix, San Bernardino, Santa Ana, and Torrence. The chemical element balance (CEB) and multiple linear regression (MLR) receptor models were evaluated for source apportionment of carbonaceous aerosol measured at Portland, Oregon, during 1977-78. The chemical element balance method on an average accounted for 87% of the fine mass and 83% of the carbon for each filter. The major sources of carbonaceous aerosol were vegetative burning and automobile exhaust. The results of receptor models were compared with the carbonaceous aerosol emission inventory (EI). The agreement between the chemical element balance method and the emission inventory shows that well cosntructed EI's can be used for seasonal or annual source apportionment. The automotive contribution by MLR agreed with that of the CEB; however, the residual oil combustion and vegetative burning contributions were significantly different.

• OSTI ID: 6587512
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COLLOIDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
MATERIALS
MEASURING METHODS
MONITORING
NONMETALS
POLLUTION
SOLS
VARIATIONS
VISIBILITY