Characterization of aerosol in the atmosphere at Syowa Station by Helium Microwave Induced Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (He-MIP-AES)

Abstract

Atmospheric aerosols at Syowa Station, Antarctica were characterized by helium microwave induced plasma atomic emission spectrometry (He-MIP-AES). The He-MIP-AES can be considered as a suitable method for the characterization of the atmospheric particulate matter since measurements of grain size distribution, elemental analysis for each particle, and chemical state analysis can be available simultaneously. Previous characterization methods such as XRF, PIXE and ICP-MS cannot provide in situ analysis and they need a long time to measure of the distribution of the particle diameter and elemental analysis of each particle. The particle samples in the atmosphere were collected on the membrane lter at Syowa Station in Antarctica. The obtained particles were analyzed by the He-MIP-AES (HORIBA, particle analyzer DP-1000). Elemental analysis, chemical state analysis, and grain diameter distribution analysis were performed. The collected particles mainly contain sea salt (Na, Mg and Ca) and soil origin constituents (Si and Fe). The counts of each element increase under blizzard and strong wind condition.