Optical Properties of Fine Particulate Matter in Upper Silesia, Poland

Ambient particles whose aerodynamic diameters were not greater than 2.5 µm (fine fraction of Particulate Matter; PM2.5) and 1 µm (PM1; sub-fraction of PM2.5) were sampled at three sites in Upper Silesia (Poland): urban background site, rural background site, and urban traffic site. In total, 240 sam...

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Main Authors: Jozef S. Pastuszka, Wioletta Rogula-Kozłowska, Krzysztof Klejnowski, Patrycja Rogula-Kopiec
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-10-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/6/10/1521
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author Jozef S. Pastuszka
Wioletta Rogula-Kozłowska
Krzysztof Klejnowski
Patrycja Rogula-Kopiec
author_facet Jozef S. Pastuszka
Wioletta Rogula-Kozłowska
Krzysztof Klejnowski
Patrycja Rogula-Kopiec
author_sort Jozef S. Pastuszka
collection DOAJ
description Ambient particles whose aerodynamic diameters were not greater than 2.5 µm (fine fraction of Particulate Matter; PM2.5) and 1 µm (PM1; sub-fraction of PM2.5) were sampled at three sites in Upper Silesia (Poland): urban background site, rural background site, and urban traffic site. In total, 240 samples were collected between 2 August 2009 and 27 December 2010. The reflectance of the collected PM1 and PM2.5 samples was determined with a digital smoke stain reflectometer. The 24-h courses and seasonal changes of three determined optical parameters for PM1 and PM2.5 (absorption coefficient (a), mass absorption (σ), and mean light reflection coefficient (Rav)) were illustrated and discussed. The mean values of the regional background absorption coefficient (a) were 1.27 × 10−5 m−1 and 0.87 × 10−5 m−1 for PM2.5 and PM1, respectively. In Katowice (urban background), the mean absorption levels were 2.37 × 10−5 m−1 and 2.09 × 10−5 m−1 for PM2.5 and PM1, respectively. The highest values of the absorption coefficient for both PM fractions were found close to the highway (urban traffic site). In the heating season (winter), the absorption coefficient (a) for PM2.5 and PM1 increased significantly when compared with the non-heating season. The obtained results confirmed the thesis about the significant increase in the elemental PM2.5-bound carbon concentration caused by the intensified hard coal combustion in Upper Silesia in winter. Moreover, it turned out that the increase in the concentration of the PM2.5-bound sulphates was even higher, which resulted in the relative decrease of the elemental carbon content in this PM fraction in some areas. Consequently, the mass absorption value dropped there as well.
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spelling doaj.art-ffe99390d4b14506aa343d40c602a0a02022-12-22T02:56:01ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332015-10-016101521153810.3390/atmos6101521atmos6101521Optical Properties of Fine Particulate Matter in Upper Silesia, PolandJozef S. Pastuszka0Wioletta Rogula-Kozłowska1Krzysztof Klejnowski2Patrycja Rogula-Kopiec3Department of Air Protection, Silesian University of Technology, 22B Konarskiego Street, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandInstitute of Environmental Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Skłodowskiej-Curie Street, 41-819 Zabrze, PolandInstitute of Environmental Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Skłodowskiej-Curie Street, 41-819 Zabrze, PolandInstitute of Environmental Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Skłodowskiej-Curie Street, 41-819 Zabrze, PolandAmbient particles whose aerodynamic diameters were not greater than 2.5 µm (fine fraction of Particulate Matter; PM2.5) and 1 µm (PM1; sub-fraction of PM2.5) were sampled at three sites in Upper Silesia (Poland): urban background site, rural background site, and urban traffic site. In total, 240 samples were collected between 2 August 2009 and 27 December 2010. The reflectance of the collected PM1 and PM2.5 samples was determined with a digital smoke stain reflectometer. The 24-h courses and seasonal changes of three determined optical parameters for PM1 and PM2.5 (absorption coefficient (a), mass absorption (σ), and mean light reflection coefficient (Rav)) were illustrated and discussed. The mean values of the regional background absorption coefficient (a) were 1.27 × 10−5 m−1 and 0.87 × 10−5 m−1 for PM2.5 and PM1, respectively. In Katowice (urban background), the mean absorption levels were 2.37 × 10−5 m−1 and 2.09 × 10−5 m−1 for PM2.5 and PM1, respectively. The highest values of the absorption coefficient for both PM fractions were found close to the highway (urban traffic site). In the heating season (winter), the absorption coefficient (a) for PM2.5 and PM1 increased significantly when compared with the non-heating season. The obtained results confirmed the thesis about the significant increase in the elemental PM2.5-bound carbon concentration caused by the intensified hard coal combustion in Upper Silesia in winter. Moreover, it turned out that the increase in the concentration of the PM2.5-bound sulphates was even higher, which resulted in the relative decrease of the elemental carbon content in this PM fraction in some areas. Consequently, the mass absorption value dropped there as well.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/6/10/1521PM2.5PM1 absorption coefficientlight reflection coefficientelemental carbonblack carbonsulphatesmunicipal emissionhard coal combustionexhaust emission
spellingShingle Jozef S. Pastuszka
Wioletta Rogula-Kozłowska
Krzysztof Klejnowski
Patrycja Rogula-Kopiec
Optical Properties of Fine Particulate Matter in Upper Silesia, Poland
Atmosphere
PM2.5
PM1
absorption coefficient
light reflection coefficient
elemental carbon
black carbon
sulphates
municipal emission
hard coal combustion
exhaust emission
title Optical Properties of Fine Particulate Matter in Upper Silesia, Poland
title_full Optical Properties of Fine Particulate Matter in Upper Silesia, Poland
title_fullStr Optical Properties of Fine Particulate Matter in Upper Silesia, Poland
title_full_unstemmed Optical Properties of Fine Particulate Matter in Upper Silesia, Poland
title_short Optical Properties of Fine Particulate Matter in Upper Silesia, Poland
title_sort optical properties of fine particulate matter in upper silesia poland
topic PM2.5
PM1
absorption coefficient
light reflection coefficient
elemental carbon
black carbon
sulphates
municipal emission
hard coal combustion
exhaust emission
url http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/6/10/1521
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