Source Identification of Aerosols in Atmosphere Using Geochemical Properties of Tracer Elements (The Case Study Area: City of Kermanshah)

Abstract

The purpose of this research was source identification of aerosols in atmosphere using geochemical properties in the city of Kermanshah. The concentrations of twenty elements consisting of K, Na, Ca, P, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, Se, Zn, Fe, Mg, B, Cr, Co, As, Mo, V were analyzed by ICP for 55 soil samples (in the height range of 600-1600m) and 41 aerosols samples. Source identification of aerosels using geochemical tracers was performed in two steps. In the first step, appropriate combination of tracer elements with high ability in the resolation of aerosol sources was chosen using the means comparison test and discriminate analysis. In the second step, the multivariate mixing model was used to determine the contribution of aerosol sources (geological and geomorphology types) to the production of aerosols in the study area. The results obtained from determination of the contributions of sources of aerosols (geological and geomorphological types) showed the UF formation (consisting of red marl and sandstone), with the height of 0-1400 mand the slope of 0-5%, could be regarded as the main contributor to the production of aerosols located in the city of Qasreshirin.

Keywords

• climate
• pm10
• contribution
• multivariate mixing model
• natural sources.