Search

This paper represents the results of one year long measurement period of the size distributions of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), inorganic ions and gravimetric mass of particulate matter. Measurements were done at an urban background station (SMEAR III) by using a micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI). The site is located in northern European boreal region in Helsinki, Finland. The WSOC size distribution measurements were completed with the chemical analysis of inorganic ions, organic carbon (OC) and monosaccharide anhydrides from the filter samples (particle aerodynamic diameter smaller than 1 μm, PM1). Gravimetric mass concentration varied during the MOUDI samplings between 3.4 and 55.0 μg m−3 and the WSOC concentrations were between 0.3 and 7.4 μg m−3. On average, water-soluble particulate organic matter (WSPOM, WSOC multiplied by 1.6 to convert the analyzed carbon mass to organic matter mass) comprised 25±7.7% and 7.5±3.4% of aerosol PM1 mass and the PM1–10 mass, respectively. Inorganic ions contributed 33±12% and 28±19% of the analyzed PM1 and PM1–10 aerosol mass. Five different aerosol categories corresponding to different sources or source areas were identified (long-range transport aerosols, biomass burning aerosols from wild land fires and from small-scale wood combustion, aerosols originating from marine areas and from the clean arctic areas). Categories were identified mainly using levoglucosan concentration level for wood combustion and air mass backward trajectories for other groups. Clear differences in WSOC concentrations and size distributions originating from different sources or source areas were observed, although there are also many other factors which might affect the results. E.g. the local conditions and sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and aerosols as well as various transformation processes are likely to have an impact on the measured aerosol composition. Using the source categories, it was identified that especially the oxidation products of biogenic VOCs in summer had a clear effect on WSOC concentrations.

The number concentration and size distribution of traffic related particles were measured at road-side in Helsinki. Two winter campaigns took place in 10–26 February 2003 and 28 January–12 February 2004 and two summer campaigns in 12–27 August 2003 and 6–20 August 2004. The measurements were performed simultaneously at distances of 9 m and 65 m from the highway. This study concentrates on data that were measured when the wind direction was from the road to the measurement site. The total concentration in winter time was 2–3 times higher than in summer time and it was dominated by nucleation mode particles. The particles smaller than 63 nm (at aerodynamic size) constitute ~90% of all particles in winter time and ~80% of particles in summer time. The particle total concentration increases with increasing traffic rate. The dependence of particles smaller than 63 nm on traffic rate is stronger than for particles larger than 63 nm both during summer and winter. The particle distribution at the roadside consists of two distinguishable modes. The GMD of nucleation mode (Mode 1) was 20.3 nm at summer and 18.9 nm at winter. The GMD of the larger mode (Mode 2) was 72.0 nm at summer and 75.1 nm at winter. The GMD values of the modes do not depend on traffic rate. The average density value for Mode 1 particles was 1.0 g/cm3 both in summer and winter time, while the average density value for Mode 2 was 1.5±0.1 g/cm3 and 1.8±0.3 g/cm3 for summer and winter time, respectively.