Contribution of fine particle sulfates to light scattering in St. Louis summer aerosol

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00154a007· OSTI ID:7167146

Vossler, T L; Macias, E S

The contribution of fine particle (NH/sub 4/)/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ to total light scattering was calculated from measured sulfur size distributions and estimates of water that might be associated with this deliquescent species. The most common type of sulfur size distribution observed had a major sulfur mass peak between 0.5 and 1.0 ..mu..m in diameter and was associated with the highest levels of b/sub scat/. A less common type with no peak above 0.5 ..mu..m was associated only with low values of b/sub scat/. On average, (NH/sub 4/)SO/sub 4/ plus associated water contributed 68% of the total light scattering due to particles during the summer of 1984. The measured light scattering coefficient, b/sub scat/, and (NH/sub 4/)/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ plus associated water were extremely well correlated. b/sub scat/ and total fine particle mass were not as well correlated, because the correlation between b/sub scat/ and non-sulfate fine mass was poor. The average calculated light scattering efficiency of (NH/sub 4/)/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ plus water was 4.2 m/sup 2//g. The higher values were associated with sulfur size distributions with a major peak above 0.5 ..mu..m.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO
• OSTI ID: 7167146
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 20:12; ISSN ESTHA
• 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
COLLOIDS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION VII
INFORMATION
LIGHT SCATTERING
MEASURING METHODS
MISSOURI
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION
SCATTERING
SIZE
SOLS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
USA
VISIBILITY