Single-particle characterization of biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA): evidence for non-uniform mixing of high molecular weight organics and potassium
Biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA) can be emitted from natural forest fires and human activities such as agricultural burning and domestic energy generation. BBOA is strongly associated with atmospheric brown carbon (BrC) that absorbs near-ultraviolet and visible light, resulting in significa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2016-05-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/5561/2016/acp-16-5561-2016.pdf |
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| author | A. K. Y. Lee M. D. Willis R. M. Healy R. M. Healy R. M. Healy J. M. Wang C.-H. Jeong J. C. Wenger G. J. Evans J. P. D. Abbatt |
| author_facet | A. K. Y. Lee M. D. Willis R. M. Healy R. M. Healy R. M. Healy J. M. Wang C.-H. Jeong J. C. Wenger G. J. Evans J. P. D. Abbatt |
| author_sort | A. K. Y. Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA) can be emitted from natural forest
fires and human activities such as agricultural burning and domestic energy
generation. BBOA is strongly associated with atmospheric brown carbon (BrC)
that absorbs near-ultraviolet and visible light, resulting in significant
impacts on regional visibility degradation and radiative forcing. The mixing
state of BBOA can play a critical role in the prediction of aerosol optical
properties. In this work, single-particle measurements from a Soot-Particle
Aerosol Mass Spectrometer coupled with a light scattering module (LS-SP-AMS)
were performed to examine the mixing state of BBOA, refractory black carbon
(rBC), and potassium (K, a tracer for biomass burning aerosol) in an air mass
influenced by wildfire emissions transported from northern Québec to
Toronto, representing aged biomass burning plumes. Cluster analysis of
single-particle measurements identified five BBOA-related particle types.
rBC accounted for 3–14 wt % of these particle types on average. Only one
particle type exhibited a strong ion signal for K<sup>+</sup>, with mass spectra
characterized by low molecular weight organic species. The remaining four
particle types were classified based on the apparent molecular weight of the
BBOA constituents. Two particle types were associated with low potassium
content and significant amounts of high molecular weight (HMW) organic
compounds. Our observations indicate non-uniform mixing of particles within
a biomass burning plume in terms of molecular weight and illustrate that HMW
BBOA can be a key contributor to low-volatility BrC observed in BBOA
particles. The average mass absorption efficiency of low-volatility BBOA is
about 0.8–1.1 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup> based on a theoretical closure calculation. Our
estimates indicate that low-volatility BBOA contributes ∼ 33–44 % of thermo-processed particle absorption at 405 nm; and almost all
of the BBOA absorption was associated with low-volatility organics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:34:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-27054516aa3f449a9d40539836f26011 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:34:38Z |
| publishDate | 2016-05-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-27054516aa3f449a9d40539836f260112022-12-22T03:23:01ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242016-05-01165561557210.5194/acp-16-5561-2016Single-particle characterization of biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA): evidence for non-uniform mixing of high molecular weight organics and potassiumA. K. Y. Lee0M. D. Willis1R. M. Healy2R. M. Healy3R. M. Healy4J. M. Wang5C.-H. Jeong6J. C. Wenger7G. J. Evans8J. P. D. Abbatt9Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry and Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandSouthern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research, Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canadanow at: Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Toronto, CanadaSouthern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research, Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaSouthern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research, Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry and Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandSouthern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research, Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaBiomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA) can be emitted from natural forest fires and human activities such as agricultural burning and domestic energy generation. BBOA is strongly associated with atmospheric brown carbon (BrC) that absorbs near-ultraviolet and visible light, resulting in significant impacts on regional visibility degradation and radiative forcing. The mixing state of BBOA can play a critical role in the prediction of aerosol optical properties. In this work, single-particle measurements from a Soot-Particle Aerosol Mass Spectrometer coupled with a light scattering module (LS-SP-AMS) were performed to examine the mixing state of BBOA, refractory black carbon (rBC), and potassium (K, a tracer for biomass burning aerosol) in an air mass influenced by wildfire emissions transported from northern Québec to Toronto, representing aged biomass burning plumes. Cluster analysis of single-particle measurements identified five BBOA-related particle types. rBC accounted for 3–14 wt % of these particle types on average. Only one particle type exhibited a strong ion signal for K<sup>+</sup>, with mass spectra characterized by low molecular weight organic species. The remaining four particle types were classified based on the apparent molecular weight of the BBOA constituents. Two particle types were associated with low potassium content and significant amounts of high molecular weight (HMW) organic compounds. Our observations indicate non-uniform mixing of particles within a biomass burning plume in terms of molecular weight and illustrate that HMW BBOA can be a key contributor to low-volatility BrC observed in BBOA particles. The average mass absorption efficiency of low-volatility BBOA is about 0.8–1.1 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup> based on a theoretical closure calculation. Our estimates indicate that low-volatility BBOA contributes ∼ 33–44 % of thermo-processed particle absorption at 405 nm; and almost all of the BBOA absorption was associated with low-volatility organics.https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/5561/2016/acp-16-5561-2016.pdf |
| spellingShingle | A. K. Y. Lee M. D. Willis R. M. Healy R. M. Healy R. M. Healy J. M. Wang C.-H. Jeong J. C. Wenger G. J. Evans J. P. D. Abbatt Single-particle characterization of biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA): evidence for non-uniform mixing of high molecular weight organics and potassium Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Single-particle characterization of biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA): evidence for non-uniform mixing of high molecular weight organics and potassium |
| title_full | Single-particle characterization of biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA): evidence for non-uniform mixing of high molecular weight organics and potassium |
| title_fullStr | Single-particle characterization of biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA): evidence for non-uniform mixing of high molecular weight organics and potassium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Single-particle characterization of biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA): evidence for non-uniform mixing of high molecular weight organics and potassium |
| title_short | Single-particle characterization of biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA): evidence for non-uniform mixing of high molecular weight organics and potassium |
| title_sort | single particle characterization of biomass burning organic aerosol bboa evidence for non uniform mixing of high molecular weight organics and potassium |
| url | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/5561/2016/acp-16-5561-2016.pdf |
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