Sulfur isotope anomalies (Δ33S) in urban air pollution linked to mineral-dust-associated sulfateclick to copy article link
<p>Sulfur isotope analysis provides a unique probe for source-specific information and certain atmospheric reactions. Globally, atmospheric aerosols in urban locations exhibit significant sulfur mass-independent fractionation (i.e., S-MIF, Δ<sup>33</sup>S ≠ 0). The...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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Format: | Journal article |
Language: | English |
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American Chemical Society
2022
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_version_ | 1811140545484947456 |
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author | Dasari, S Paris, G Saar, B Pei, Q Cong, Z Widory, D |
author_facet | Dasari, S Paris, G Saar, B Pei, Q Cong, Z Widory, D |
author_sort | Dasari, S |
collection | OXFORD |
description | <p>Sulfur isotope analysis provides a unique probe for source-specific information and certain atmospheric reactions. Globally, atmospheric aerosols in urban locations exhibit significant sulfur mass-independent fractionation (i.e., S-MIF, Δ<sup>33</sup>S ≠ 0). The origin(s) of these S-MIF anomalies remains unclear, thereby limiting the interpretation and/or application of such signals. Here, we conducted dual-isotope (Δ<sup>33</sup>S and δ<sup>34</sup>S) fingerprinting of sulfate aerosols from summertime megacity Delhi in south Asia. A shift toward concomitantly high Δ<sup>33</sup>S (from 0.2‰ to 0.5‰) and low δ<sup>34</sup>S (from 5‰ to 1‰) values was observed with the influx of mineral dust. The Fe:Al ratio showed significant correlations with both sulfate loadings (<em>R</em><sup>2</sup> = 0.84) and Δ<sup>33</sup>S signatures (<em>R</em><sup>2</sup> = 0.77). Contrary to the prevailing paradigm, this observational evidence suggests that mineral-dust-associated sulfate exhibits S-MIF anomalies. Atmospheric processing of mineral dust plausibly leads to the production of these anomalies. Our evaluation suggests that an inherent mechanism(s) remains elusive. Although hindered by end-member uncertainties, we show that S-MIF signals can be source apportioned to quantitatively constrain the fraction of mineral-dust-associated sulfate in urban locations. The influx of mineral-dust-associated sulfate can influence urban air pollution affecting air quality and/or human health and as such requires monitoring. Urban Δ<sup>33</sup>S signals can therefore be used to trace this sulfate fraction, thereby improving our understanding of sulfate aerosol dynamics.</p> |
first_indexed | 2024-09-25T04:23:41Z |
format | Journal article |
id | oxford-uuid:7d27842c-a29a-421d-bf8c-ff35831d3855 |
institution | University of Oxford |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-09-25T04:23:41Z |
publishDate | 2022 |
publisher | American Chemical Society |
record_format | dspace |
spelling | oxford-uuid:7d27842c-a29a-421d-bf8c-ff35831d38552024-08-20T09:35:38ZSulfur isotope anomalies (Δ33S) in urban air pollution linked to mineral-dust-associated sulfateclick to copy article linkJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:7d27842c-a29a-421d-bf8c-ff35831d3855EnglishSymplectic ElementsAmerican Chemical Society2022Dasari, SParis, GSaar, BPei, QCong, ZWidory, D<p>Sulfur isotope analysis provides a unique probe for source-specific information and certain atmospheric reactions. Globally, atmospheric aerosols in urban locations exhibit significant sulfur mass-independent fractionation (i.e., S-MIF, Δ<sup>33</sup>S ≠ 0). The origin(s) of these S-MIF anomalies remains unclear, thereby limiting the interpretation and/or application of such signals. Here, we conducted dual-isotope (Δ<sup>33</sup>S and δ<sup>34</sup>S) fingerprinting of sulfate aerosols from summertime megacity Delhi in south Asia. A shift toward concomitantly high Δ<sup>33</sup>S (from 0.2‰ to 0.5‰) and low δ<sup>34</sup>S (from 5‰ to 1‰) values was observed with the influx of mineral dust. The Fe:Al ratio showed significant correlations with both sulfate loadings (<em>R</em><sup>2</sup> = 0.84) and Δ<sup>33</sup>S signatures (<em>R</em><sup>2</sup> = 0.77). Contrary to the prevailing paradigm, this observational evidence suggests that mineral-dust-associated sulfate exhibits S-MIF anomalies. Atmospheric processing of mineral dust plausibly leads to the production of these anomalies. Our evaluation suggests that an inherent mechanism(s) remains elusive. Although hindered by end-member uncertainties, we show that S-MIF signals can be source apportioned to quantitatively constrain the fraction of mineral-dust-associated sulfate in urban locations. The influx of mineral-dust-associated sulfate can influence urban air pollution affecting air quality and/or human health and as such requires monitoring. Urban Δ<sup>33</sup>S signals can therefore be used to trace this sulfate fraction, thereby improving our understanding of sulfate aerosol dynamics.</p> |
spellingShingle | Dasari, S Paris, G Saar, B Pei, Q Cong, Z Widory, D Sulfur isotope anomalies (Δ33S) in urban air pollution linked to mineral-dust-associated sulfateclick to copy article link |
title | Sulfur isotope anomalies (Δ33S) in urban air pollution linked to mineral-dust-associated sulfateclick to copy article link |
title_full | Sulfur isotope anomalies (Δ33S) in urban air pollution linked to mineral-dust-associated sulfateclick to copy article link |
title_fullStr | Sulfur isotope anomalies (Δ33S) in urban air pollution linked to mineral-dust-associated sulfateclick to copy article link |
title_full_unstemmed | Sulfur isotope anomalies (Δ33S) in urban air pollution linked to mineral-dust-associated sulfateclick to copy article link |
title_short | Sulfur isotope anomalies (Δ33S) in urban air pollution linked to mineral-dust-associated sulfateclick to copy article link |
title_sort | sulfur isotope anomalies δ33s in urban air pollution linked to mineral dust associated sulfateclick to copy article link |
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