Size-resolved aerosol water-soluble ionic compositions in the summer of Beijing: implication of regional secondary formation

Abstract

To characterize aerosol pollution in Beijing, size-resolved aerosols were collected by MOUDIs during CAREBEIJING-2006 field campaign at Peking University (urban site) and Yufa (upwind rural site). Fine particle concentrations (PM_1.8 by MOUDI) were 99.8±77.4 μg/m³ and 78.2±58.4 μg/m³, with PM_1.8/PM₁₀ ratios of 0.64±0.08 and 0.76±0.08 at PKU and Yufa, respectively, and secondary compounds accounted for more than 50% in fine particles. PMF model analysis was used to resolve the particle modes. Three modes were resolved at Yufa, representing condensation, droplet and coarse mode. However, one more droplet mode with bigger size was resolved, which was considered probably from regional transport. Condensation mode accounted for 10%–60% of the total mass at both sites, indicating that the gas-to-particle condensation process was important in summer. The formation of sulfate was mainly attributed to in-cloud or aerosol droplet process (PKU 80%, Yufa 70%) and gas condensation process (PKU 14%, Yufa 22%). According to the thermodynamic instability of NH₄NO₃, size distributions of nitrate were classified as three categories by RH. The existence of Ca(NO₃)₂ in droplet mode indicated the reaction of HNO₃ with crustal particles was also important in fine particles. A rough estimation was given that 69% of the PM₁₀ and 87% of the PM_1.8 in Beijing urban were regional contributions. Sulfate, ammonium and oxalate were formed regionally, with the regional contributions of 90%, 87% and 95% to PM_1.8. Nitrate formation was local dominant. In summary regional secondary formation led to aerosol pollution in the summer of Beijing.