Characteristics of atmospheric ammonia over Beijing, China

Continuous measurements of atmospheric ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) were conducted using Ogawa passive samplers from February 2008 to July 2010 at an urban site and from January 2007 to July 2010 at a rural site in Beijing, China. NH<sub>4</sub>&am...

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Main Authors: Z. Y. Meng, W. L. Lin, X. M. Jiang, P. Yan, Y. Wang, Y. M. Zhang, X. F. Jia, X. L. Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2011-06-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/6139/2011/acp-11-6139-2011.pdf
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author Z. Y. Meng
W. L. Lin
X. M. Jiang
P. Yan
Y. Wang
Y. M. Zhang
X. F. Jia
X. L. Yu
author_facet Z. Y. Meng
W. L. Lin
X. M. Jiang
P. Yan
Y. Wang
Y. M. Zhang
X. F. Jia
X. L. Yu
author_sort Z. Y. Meng
collection DOAJ
description Continuous measurements of atmospheric ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) were conducted using Ogawa passive samplers from February 2008 to July 2010 at an urban site and from January 2007 to July 2010 at a rural site in Beijing, China. NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> in fine particles was also collected at the rural site during 2008–2009. The field comparison between the Ogawa passive samplers and an active analyzer for NH<sub>3</sub> conducted at the urban site assures the quality and accuracy of the measurements. The concentrations of NH<sub>3</sub> at the urban site ranged from 0.7 to 85.1 ppb, with the annual average of 18.5 ± 13.8 and 23.5 ± 18.0 ppb in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations at the rural site were lower than those at urban site, and varied from 0.8 to 42.9 ppb, with the annual average of 4.5 ± 4.6, 6.6 ± 7.0 and 7.1 ± 3.5 ppb in 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. The data showed marked seasonal variations at both sites. The results emphasized traffic to be a significant source of NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations in winter in urban areas of Beijing. This was illustrated by the strong correlations of NH<sub>3</sub> with the traffic related pollutants (NO<sub>x</sub> and CO) and also by the bimodal diurnal cycle of NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations that was synchronized with traffic. Similar patterns were not observed during the summer, suggesting other non-traffic sources became more important. At the rural site, the daily NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> concentrations ranged from 0.10 to 36.53 μg m<sup>−3</sup>, with an average of 7.03 μg m<sup>−3</sup> from June 2008 to December 2009. Monthly NH<sub>3</sub> were significantly correlated with NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> concentrations. Average monthly NH<sub>3</sub>/NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> ratios varied from 0.13 to 2.28, with an average of 0.73. NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> in PM<sub>2.5</sub> was primarily associated with SO<sub>4</sub><sup>−2</sup> at the rural site.
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spelling doaj.art-f40da0ac87d34a0fb371fa16b0f1dd1b2022-12-22T01:08:08ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242011-06-0111126139615110.5194/acp-11-6139-2011Characteristics of atmospheric ammonia over Beijing, ChinaZ. Y. MengW. L. LinX. M. JiangP. YanY. WangY. M. ZhangX. F. JiaX. L. YuContinuous measurements of atmospheric ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) were conducted using Ogawa passive samplers from February 2008 to July 2010 at an urban site and from January 2007 to July 2010 at a rural site in Beijing, China. NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> in fine particles was also collected at the rural site during 2008–2009. The field comparison between the Ogawa passive samplers and an active analyzer for NH<sub>3</sub> conducted at the urban site assures the quality and accuracy of the measurements. The concentrations of NH<sub>3</sub> at the urban site ranged from 0.7 to 85.1 ppb, with the annual average of 18.5 ± 13.8 and 23.5 ± 18.0 ppb in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations at the rural site were lower than those at urban site, and varied from 0.8 to 42.9 ppb, with the annual average of 4.5 ± 4.6, 6.6 ± 7.0 and 7.1 ± 3.5 ppb in 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. The data showed marked seasonal variations at both sites. The results emphasized traffic to be a significant source of NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations in winter in urban areas of Beijing. This was illustrated by the strong correlations of NH<sub>3</sub> with the traffic related pollutants (NO<sub>x</sub> and CO) and also by the bimodal diurnal cycle of NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations that was synchronized with traffic. Similar patterns were not observed during the summer, suggesting other non-traffic sources became more important. At the rural site, the daily NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> concentrations ranged from 0.10 to 36.53 μg m<sup>−3</sup>, with an average of 7.03 μg m<sup>−3</sup> from June 2008 to December 2009. Monthly NH<sub>3</sub> were significantly correlated with NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> concentrations. Average monthly NH<sub>3</sub>/NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> ratios varied from 0.13 to 2.28, with an average of 0.73. NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> in PM<sub>2.5</sub> was primarily associated with SO<sub>4</sub><sup>−2</sup> at the rural site.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/6139/2011/acp-11-6139-2011.pdf
spellingShingle Z. Y. Meng
W. L. Lin
X. M. Jiang
P. Yan
Y. Wang
Y. M. Zhang
X. F. Jia
X. L. Yu
Characteristics of atmospheric ammonia over Beijing, China
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Characteristics of atmospheric ammonia over Beijing, China
title_full Characteristics of atmospheric ammonia over Beijing, China
title_fullStr Characteristics of atmospheric ammonia over Beijing, China
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics of atmospheric ammonia over Beijing, China
title_short Characteristics of atmospheric ammonia over Beijing, China
title_sort characteristics of atmospheric ammonia over beijing china
url http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/6139/2011/acp-11-6139-2011.pdf
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