Description
TitleCharacterization of summertime aerosols at Ny-Ålesund in the Arctic
Date Created2014
Other Date2014-05 (degree)
Extentxiv, 110 p. : ill.
DescriptionCharacteristics of atmospheric aerosols have implications for aerosol radiative forcing, aerosol-cloud interactions, heterogeneous chemistry, and climate. To characterize summertime aerosols in the Arctic, aerosol samples were collected at Ny-Ålesund in July of 2011 and 2012. The specific objectives were: (1) to determine aerosol compositions, (2) to investigate the sources and deposition of selected aerosol components, (3) to identify the effects of ship emissions on aerosol concentrations, and (4) to investigate the formation of secondary inorganic aerosols (SIAs), aerosol acidity and chloride (Cl−) depletion. The results showed that the mean equivalent black carbon (EBC) concentration was 17 ng m-3 at the Ny-Ålesund settlement, higher than the mean value of 5.4 ng m-3 observed outside the Ny-Ålesund settlement in July 2011. The average local emission rate of EBC was 8.1 g h-1, with an uncertainty of approximately a factor of two. The EBC plumes from local emissions were confined to 10 km downwind, with the total EBC deposition estimated to be 6.4–44 ng m-2 h-1. When two cruise ships with more than 1500 passengers visited Ny-Ålesund in July 2012, the concentrations of the nc-V, nc-Ni and nss-SO42− were 0.976 ng m−3, 0.572 ng m−3 and 203 ng m−3, which were 38-fold, 8-fold and 2-fold higher than their median values of the sampling period. In July 2012, the mean SIAs concentration, defined as the sum of nss-SO42−, NO3− and NH4+, was 158 ng m−3, accounted for 33% of the total mass of ionic species. The mean neutralization ratio (NR) was 0.53, indicating that SO42− and NO3− was not fully neutralized by NH4+. The Cl− depletion occurred in samples that had high concentrations of [nss-SO42− + NO3− − NH4+] and sea salt, indicating that the Cl− depletion could be affected by interactions of acidic species (SO42−, NO3−) with sea salt. Results from this study fill the data gap of the chemical properties of summertime aerosols and the effects of local emissions on air quality at Ny-Ålesund in the Arctic. These results may serve for future research that seeks to assess aerosol radiative forcing and for developing emission reduction strategies in the Arctic.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
NoteIncludes vita
Noteby Jianqiong Zhan
Genretheses, ETD doctoral
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - Newark Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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