Composition and mixing state of atmospheric aerosols determined by electron microscopy: method development and application to aged Saharan dust deposition in the Caribbean boundary layer

<p>The microphysical properties, composition and mixing state of mineral dust, sea salt and secondary compounds were measured by active and passive aerosol sampling, followed by electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence in the Caribbean marine boundary layer. Measurements were carried out...

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Main Authors: K. Kandler, K. Schneiders, M. Ebert, M. Hartmann, S. Weinbruch, M. Prass, C. Pöhlker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2018-09-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/13429/2018/acp-18-13429-2018.pdf
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author K. Kandler
K. Schneiders
M. Ebert
M. Hartmann
M. Hartmann
S. Weinbruch
M. Prass
C. Pöhlker
author_facet K. Kandler
K. Schneiders
M. Ebert
M. Hartmann
M. Hartmann
S. Weinbruch
M. Prass
C. Pöhlker
author_sort K. Kandler
collection DOAJ
description <p>The microphysical properties, composition and mixing state of mineral dust, sea salt and secondary compounds were measured by active and passive aerosol sampling, followed by electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence in the Caribbean marine boundary layer. Measurements were carried out at Ragged Point, Barbados during June–July 2013 and August 2016. Techniques are presented and evaluated, which allow for statements on atmospheric aerosol concentrations and aerosol mixing state based on collected samples. It became obvious that in the diameter range with the highest dust deposition the deposition velocity models disagree by more than 2 orders of magnitude. Aerosol at Ragged Point was dominated by dust, sea salt and soluble sulfates in varying proportions. The contribution of sea salt was dependent on local wind speed. Sulfate concentrations were linked to long-range transport from Africa and Europe, and South America and the southern Atlantic Ocean. Dust sources were located in western Africa. The dust silicate composition was not significantly varied. Pure feldspar grains were 3&thinsp;% of the silicate particles, of which about a third were K-feldspar. The average dust deposition observed was 10&thinsp;mg&thinsp;m<sup>−2</sup>&thinsp;d<sup>−1</sup> (range of 0.5–47&thinsp;mg&thinsp;m<sup>−2</sup>&thinsp;d<sup>−1</sup>), of which 0.67&thinsp;mg&thinsp;m<sup>−2</sup>&thinsp;d<sup>−1</sup> was iron and 0.001&thinsp;mg&thinsp;m<sup>−2</sup>&thinsp;d<sup>−1</sup> phosphorus. Iron deposition was mainly driven by silicate particles from Africa. Dust particles were mixed internally to a minor fraction (10&thinsp;%), mostly with sea salt and less frequently with sulfate. It was estimated that the average dust deposition velocity under ambient conditions is increased by the internal mixture by 30&thinsp;%–140&thinsp;% for particles between 1 and 10&thinsp;µm dust aerodynamic diameter, with approximately 35&thinsp;% at the mass median diameter of deposition (7.0&thinsp;µm). For this size, an effective deposition velocity of 6.4&thinsp;mm&thinsp;s<sup>−1</sup> (geometric standard deviation of 3.1 over all individual particles) was observed.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-39830e6632824e5f98a45e02043c34c02022-12-22T00:12:43ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242018-09-0118134291345510.5194/acp-18-13429-2018Composition and mixing state of atmospheric aerosols determined by electron microscopy: method development and application to aged Saharan dust deposition in the Caribbean boundary layerK. Kandler0K. Schneiders1M. Ebert2M. Hartmann3M. Hartmann4S. Weinbruch5M. Prass6C. Pöhlker7Institute for Applied Geosciences, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, GermanyInstitute for Applied Geosciences, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, GermanyInstitute for Applied Geosciences, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, GermanyInstitute for Applied Geosciences, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germanynow at: Experimental Aerosol and Cloud Microphysics Department, Tropos Leibniz-Institute für Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318 Leipzig, GermanyInstitute for Applied Geosciences, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, GermanyMax Planck Institute for Chemistry, Multiphase Chemistry Department, 55128 Mainz, GermanyMax Planck Institute for Chemistry, Multiphase Chemistry Department, 55128 Mainz, Germany<p>The microphysical properties, composition and mixing state of mineral dust, sea salt and secondary compounds were measured by active and passive aerosol sampling, followed by electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence in the Caribbean marine boundary layer. Measurements were carried out at Ragged Point, Barbados during June–July 2013 and August 2016. Techniques are presented and evaluated, which allow for statements on atmospheric aerosol concentrations and aerosol mixing state based on collected samples. It became obvious that in the diameter range with the highest dust deposition the deposition velocity models disagree by more than 2 orders of magnitude. Aerosol at Ragged Point was dominated by dust, sea salt and soluble sulfates in varying proportions. The contribution of sea salt was dependent on local wind speed. Sulfate concentrations were linked to long-range transport from Africa and Europe, and South America and the southern Atlantic Ocean. Dust sources were located in western Africa. The dust silicate composition was not significantly varied. Pure feldspar grains were 3&thinsp;% of the silicate particles, of which about a third were K-feldspar. The average dust deposition observed was 10&thinsp;mg&thinsp;m<sup>−2</sup>&thinsp;d<sup>−1</sup> (range of 0.5–47&thinsp;mg&thinsp;m<sup>−2</sup>&thinsp;d<sup>−1</sup>), of which 0.67&thinsp;mg&thinsp;m<sup>−2</sup>&thinsp;d<sup>−1</sup> was iron and 0.001&thinsp;mg&thinsp;m<sup>−2</sup>&thinsp;d<sup>−1</sup> phosphorus. Iron deposition was mainly driven by silicate particles from Africa. Dust particles were mixed internally to a minor fraction (10&thinsp;%), mostly with sea salt and less frequently with sulfate. It was estimated that the average dust deposition velocity under ambient conditions is increased by the internal mixture by 30&thinsp;%–140&thinsp;% for particles between 1 and 10&thinsp;µm dust aerodynamic diameter, with approximately 35&thinsp;% at the mass median diameter of deposition (7.0&thinsp;µm). For this size, an effective deposition velocity of 6.4&thinsp;mm&thinsp;s<sup>−1</sup> (geometric standard deviation of 3.1 over all individual particles) was observed.</p>https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/13429/2018/acp-18-13429-2018.pdf
spellingShingle K. Kandler
K. Schneiders
M. Ebert
M. Hartmann
M. Hartmann
S. Weinbruch
M. Prass
C. Pöhlker
Composition and mixing state of atmospheric aerosols determined by electron microscopy: method development and application to aged Saharan dust deposition in the Caribbean boundary layer
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Composition and mixing state of atmospheric aerosols determined by electron microscopy: method development and application to aged Saharan dust deposition in the Caribbean boundary layer
title_full Composition and mixing state of atmospheric aerosols determined by electron microscopy: method development and application to aged Saharan dust deposition in the Caribbean boundary layer
title_fullStr Composition and mixing state of atmospheric aerosols determined by electron microscopy: method development and application to aged Saharan dust deposition in the Caribbean boundary layer
title_full_unstemmed Composition and mixing state of atmospheric aerosols determined by electron microscopy: method development and application to aged Saharan dust deposition in the Caribbean boundary layer
title_short Composition and mixing state of atmospheric aerosols determined by electron microscopy: method development and application to aged Saharan dust deposition in the Caribbean boundary layer
title_sort composition and mixing state of atmospheric aerosols determined by electron microscopy method development and application to aged saharan dust deposition in the caribbean boundary layer
url https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/13429/2018/acp-18-13429-2018.pdf
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