Urban impacts on regional carbonaceous aerosols: Case study in central Texas

Barrett, T. E.; Sheesley, Rebecca J.

doi:10.1080/10962247.2014.904252

Cited by 13 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…The OM mass was estimated from OC measurements using site‐specific factors, which depend on the emission source composition (Barrett & Sheesley, ), the extent of OM oxidation, and secondary organic aerosol formation (Aiken et al, ; Barrett & Sheesley, ; Chow et al, ). Based on measurements during the Texas Air Quality Study and Gulf of Mexico Atmospheric Composition and Climate Study (Barrett & Sheesley, ; Bates et al, ; Russell et al, ), empirical factors of 1.7 and 1.8 were used for Clinton Drive and Galveston, respectively. Note that these factors lie between reported values of 1.2 for fresh (urban) aerosols and 2.6 for aged (nonurban or rural) aerosols (Chow et al, , and references therein).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying and Quantifying the Impacts of Advected North African Dust on the Concentration and Composition of Airborne Fine Particulate Matter in Houston and Galveston, Texas

et al. 2019

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Every summer, large-scale dust plumes emerge from the west coast of North Africa, cross the Atlantic, enter the Caribbean Basin, and on occasion pass over the southern United States. We show that such dust events significantly increase the concentration and alter the chemical composition of ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) in southern Texas. Between 1 August and 13 September 2014, PM 2.5 was sampled daily at Clinton Drive, an industrial location in Houston, and at Galveston located on the Gulf of Mexico coast that is not directly/significantly impacted by local and regional pollution sources. Between 17-25 August, average PM 2.5 concentrations nearly doubled when a large dust-laden African air mass moved through the region. Using ground-based measurements, satellite observations, and modeling tools, we demonstrate that this massive influx of mineral dust greatly reduced the relative abundance of pollutants in Houston where aerosols are otherwise dominated by local and regional emissions. Chemical mass balance modeling estimated that African dust contributed 19-48% of PM 2.5 during the 9-day dust episode. Moreover, African dust was present throughout the measurement period even on days outside the main dust event contributing an estimated~8% of PM 2.5 which suggests that it may be a normal summertime component in this region. These measurements agree closely with inferences of "fine dust" based on a generic soil composition in the IMPROVE (National Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments) network. Our detailed protocol supports the conclusion that African dust affects a wide region of the South, Southeast, and East Coast United States.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying and Quantifying the Impacts of Advected North African Dust on the Concentration and Composition of Airborne Fine Particulate Matter in Houston and Galveston, Texas

et al. 2019

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“…Inorganic cations included sodium, potassium, magnesium, lithium, calcium, and ammonium. The QFF extraction was previously reported in Barrett and Sheesley (2014). Briefly, soluble ions on the QFF were extracted by sonication and centrifugation in 25 ml of deionized water (Barrett & Sheesley, 2014).…”

Section: Ion Chromatographymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The QFF extraction was previously reported in Barrett and Sheesley (2014). Briefly, soluble ions on the QFF were extracted by sonication and centrifugation in 25 ml of deionized water (Barrett & Sheesley, 2014). Field blanks and filter blanks were extracted in the same manner and included with each 10.1029/2020JD033225 analysis, and calibration curve check standards were run frequently.…”

Section: Ion Chromatographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐Term Trends for Marine Sulfur Aerosol in the Alaskan Arctic and Relationships With Temperature

Moffett

Barrett

et al. 2020

JGR Atmospheres

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Marine aerosol plays a vital role in cloud-aerosol interactions during summer in the Arctic. The recent rise in temperature and decrease in sea ice extent have the potential to impact marine biogenic sources. Compounds like methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and non-sea-salt sulfate (nss-SO 4 2−), oxidation products of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) emitted by marine primary producers, are likely to increase in concentration. Long-term studies are vital to understand these changes in marine sulfur aerosol and potential interactions with Arctic climate. Samples were collected over three summers at two coastal sites on the North Slope of Alaska (Utqiaġvik and Oliktok Point). MSA concentrations followed previously reported seasonal trends, with evidence of high marine primary productivity influencing both sites. When added to an additional data set collected at Utqiaġvik, an increase in MSA concentration of + 2.5% per year and an increase in nss-SO 4 2− of + 2.1% per year are observed for the summer season over the 20-year record (1998-2017). This study identifies ambient air temperature as a strong factor for MSA, likely related to a combination of interrelated factors including warmer sea surface temperature, reduced sea ice, and temperature-dependent chemical reactions. Analysis of individual particles at Oliktok Point, within the North Slope of Alaska oil fields, showed evidence of condensation of MSA onto anthropogenic particles, highlighting the connection between marine and oil field emissions and secondary organic aerosol. This study shows the continued importance of understanding MSA in the Arctic while highlighting the need for further research into its seasonal relationship with organic carbon. Plain Language Summary Particles in the Earth's atmosphere play an important role in affecting the planet's climate. Understanding the compounds that make up these aerosol particles is especially important in the Arctic where dramatic changes in temperature and sea ice extent are being observed. Aerosol resulting from biological activity in marine regions is expected to increase in concentration and therefore have greater effects on climate. Methanesulfonic acid is one such compound that can be utilized to understand the impact of marine aerosol sources. Aerosol samples were collected over three summers at two sites on the North Slope of Alaska: Utqiaġvik and Oliktok Point. The samples were analyzed for a wide range of compounds including methanesulfonic acid. The results were combined with 16 years of data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Concentrations of methanesulfonic acid are increasing at a rate of 2.5% per year. Methanesulfonic acid was strongly related to temperature at Oliktok Point, where most marine aerosol is from the Beaufort Sea. At Utqiaġvik, strong relationships were found between methanesulfonic acid and temperature during years when intense Arctic cyclones occurred.

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“…WSOC analysis was performed using a previously described method [ Barrett and Sheesley , ]. Briefly, filter areas corresponding to ~75 μg of OC, based on filter loading, were placed in 50 mL centrifuge tubes (Bio‐Link Scientific, Wimberly, TX) and sonicated in 30 mL of deionized (DI) water for 15 min.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Year‐round optical properties and source characterization of Arctic organic carbon aerosols on the North Slope Alaska

Barrett

Sheesley

2017

JGR Atmospheres

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Long‐term data on organic aerosol concentration and optical properties are needed in the Arctic to improve characterization of radiative forcing by atmospheric aerosols. This study presents the seasonal trends (summer 2012 to summer 2013) of organic carbon (OC) and water‐soluble organic carbon (WSOC) along with optical properties of light‐absorbing OC from a yearlong sampling campaign in Utqiaġvik, AK. Ambient OC concentrations for the year range from 0.008 ± 0.002 μg m−3 to 0.95 ± 0.06 μg m−3 with peaks in late summer, early fall, and late winter. On average, WSOC accounted for 57 ± 11% of the total OC burden throughout the sampling campaign, which is consistent with previous WSOC values. In order to understand the potential radiative impacts of light‐absorbing OC, the light absorption properties of WSOC were determined. Seasonal averaging revealed that the highest average mass absorption efficiency value of 1.54 ± 0.75 m2 g−1 was in the fall, with an annual range of 0.70 ± 0.44 to 1.54 ± 0.75 m2 g−1. To quantify the contributions of fossil and contemporary carbon sources to OC, radiocarbon abundance measurements were performed. For OC, fossil contributions were the greatest for select samples in the fall at 61.4 ± 9.8%, with contemporary contributions dominating OC in the spring and summer (68.9 ± 9.8% and 64.8 ± 9.8%, respectively). Back trajectories identified five major source regions to Utqiaġvik throughout the year, with a marine influence from the Arctic Ocean potentially present in all seasons. All these results point to impact from primary and secondary sources of OC in the Arctic.

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Urban impacts on regional carbonaceous aerosols: Case study in central Texas

Cited by 13 publications

References 55 publications

Identifying and Quantifying the Impacts of Advected North African Dust on the Concentration and Composition of Airborne Fine Particulate Matter in Houston and Galveston, Texas

Identifying and Quantifying the Impacts of Advected North African Dust on the Concentration and Composition of Airborne Fine Particulate Matter in Houston and Galveston, Texas

Long‐Term Trends for Marine Sulfur Aerosol in the Alaskan Arctic and Relationships With Temperature

Year‐round optical properties and source characterization of Arctic organic carbon aerosols on the North Slope Alaska

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