Estimating the PM2.5 Mass Deficit Trends, Contributing Species, and Relation to Ambient Temperature at Three New York State Sites

Abstract PM2.5 total mass and species data obtained from the Chemical Speciation Network and the Federal Reference Method network were used to examine the mass deficit trend, contributing species, and relation to temperature. The study includes three sites in New York State representing remote, rura...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hesham Hassan, James Schwab, Oliver V. Rattigan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2024-11-01
Series:Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.240128
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Summary:Abstract PM2.5 total mass and species data obtained from the Chemical Speciation Network and the Federal Reference Method network were used to examine the mass deficit trend, contributing species, and relation to temperature. The study includes three sites in New York State representing remote, rural, and urban environments. A regression analysis method was used to regress PM2.5 total mass data from the two networks during the co-located period to estimate a scale factor used for the FRM-only data period to harmonize the measurements. The mass closure technique was employed to calculate the total mass using the species data and compared to the reported total mass. The mass deficit shows an increasing trend through time, with its fraction of the total mass increasing rapidly. A multiple linear regression model explored the contributing species to the mass deficit. Increases in the organic matter to organic carbon (OM/OC) ratio indicate a transition from fresh and anthropogenic emissions dominated regime, specifically at the urban site (0.89), to transported aged emissions and secondary biogenic emissions dominated regime, particularly at the rural environment (2.53). The sulfate contribution to the mass deficit at Whiteface Mountain can be attributed to the association with organics and particle-bound water. The mass deficit is correlated well with temperature in a second-order polynomial at temperatures above 280 K. The increase in biogenic volatile organic compounds offers precursors for secondary organic aerosols. This will increase the fraction of mass deficit to total mass, especially at sites with more exposure to biogenic emissions or transported aged emissions from wildfires. Hence, the expected and already seen global warming effect offers favorable conditions to increase biogenic emissions, wildfires, and, consequently, the mass deficit fractions, particularly at rural and remote sites. Nitrate ion association with different species needs further investigation and more organic matter precursors measurements are needed.
ISSN:1680-8584
2071-1409