• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.543-555
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• 2006

During a twenty-day period in 2005, a nine-stage Andersen cascade impactor was used to determine the seasonal size distribution of atmospheric particles and its inorganic ion species sampled for 24hr in Iksan city, located southwest of the Korean peninsula. Samples were analyzed for major water-soluble ion species using Dionex-100 ion chromatograph. Average fine and coarse mass concentrations of atmospheric particles were, respectively, 31.4 and $82.6{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ in spring and 35.8 and $73.4{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ in fall-winter during the sampling period of 2005, while measurements of 69.8 and 9.9 were obtained in the sampling period of summer, The size distribution of particulate mass concentration during the non-Asian dust period was generally bimodal, whereas the size distribution of particulate mass concentration during the Asian dust period was unimodal due to the significant increase of coarse particles, which originated from long-range transport of soil dust particles from loess regions of the Asian continent. Among ionic species, $SO{_4}^{2-},\;NH{_4}^+,\;K^+$ were mainly distributed in fine particles due to their characteristics of emission sources and gas-to-particle conversion, while $Na^+,\;Mg^{2+}\;and\;Ca^{2+}$ were dominantly in coarse particles. However, $NO_3{^-}\;and\;Cl^-$ were distributed in both coarse particles and fine particles. Although $SO{_4}^{2-}$ was mainly distributed in fine particles, the size distributions of $SO{_4}^{2-}$ in coarse mode were significantly increased during the Asian dust events compared to those during the non-Asian dust period. $Ca^{2+}$ showed the most abundant species in the atmospheric particles during the Asian dust period. $NH{_4}^+$ was found to mainly exist as $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ in fine particles.

• Atmosphere
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.551-566
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• 2019

Quantitative understanding of a random error that is associated with Lagrangian particle dispersion modeling is a prerequisite for backward-in-time mode simulations. This study aims to quantify the random error of the WRF-FLEXPART model and suggest an optimum number of the Lagrangian particles for backward-in-time simulations over the Seoul metropolitan area. A series of backward-in-time simulations of the WRF-FLEXPART model has conducted at two receptor points by changing the number of Lagrangian particles and the relative error, as a quantitative indicator of random error, is analyzed to determine the optimum number of the release particles. The results show that in the Seoul metropolitan area a 1-day Lagrangian transport contributes 80~90% in residence time and ~100% in atmospheric enhancement of carbon monoxide. The relative errors in both the residence time and the atmospheric concentration enhancement are larger when the particles release in the daytime than in the nighttime, and in the inland area than in the coastal area. The sensitivity simulations reveal that the relative errors decrease with increasing the number of Lagrangian particles. The use of small number of Lagrangian particles caused significant random errors, which is attributed to the random number sampling process. For the particle number of 6000, the relative error in the atmospheric concentration enhancement is estimated as -6% ± 10% with reduction of computational time to 21% ± 7% on average. This study emphasizes the importance of quantitative analyses of the random errors in interpreting backward-in-time simulations of the WRF-FLEXPART model and in determining the number of Lagrangian particles as well.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.132-140
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• 2007

Concentrations of atmospheric fine particles in Chungnam were measured at 7 sampling sites during 2005. The daily average concentrations of PM 10, PM2.5, and PM1 ranged from 14.9 to $136.5{\mu}g/m^3$, 8.2 to $113.2{\mu}g/m^3$, and 5.7 to $107.5{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively, and the highest levels were observed at Yeongi site. The lowest concentrations for the all size fractions of particulate were observed at Taean located at the west end of the peninsula. The daily average PM10 concentrations were below the current National Standard at all sites, while the daily average PM2.5 concentrations frequently exceeded the US Standard at Cheonan, Dangjin, Boryeong, and Yeongi sites. The frequencies of PM2.5 concentrations exceeding the US standard at Cheonan, Dangjin, Boryeong, and Yeongi were 10.8%, 6.7%, 6.7%, and 26.7%, respectively. In addition, $68{\sim}80%$ of PM10 was in the PM2.5 fraction indicating that fine particles were the major component of atmospheric particles in Chungnam.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.176-183
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• 2017

Although it is well known that rain plays an important role in capturing air pollutants, its quantitative evaluation has not been done enough. In this study, the effect of raindrop size on pollutant scavenging was investigated by clarifying the chemical nature of individual size-resolved raindrops and their residual particles. Raindrops as a function of their size were collected using the raindrop collector devised by our oneself in previous study (Ma et al., 2000) during high atmospheric loading for $PM_{2.5}$. Elemental analyses of solid residues and individual residual particles in raindrops were subsequently analyzed by Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX), respectively. The raindrop number concentration ($m^{-2}h^{-1}$) tended to drastically decrease as the drop size goes up. Particle scavenging rate, $R_{sca.}$ (%), based on the actual measurement values were 38.7, 69.5, and 80.8% for the particles with 0.3-0.5, 0.5-1.0, and $1.0-2.0{\mu}m$ diameter, respectively. S, Ca, Si, and Al ranked relatively high concentration in raindrops, especially small ones. Most of the element showed a continuous decrease in concentration with increasing raindrop diameter. The source profile by factor analysis for the components of residual particles indicated that the rainfall plays a valuable role in scavenging natural as well as artificial particles from the dirty atmosphere.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.43-54
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• 2021

Size distributions of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) and its water-soluble organic and inorganic components were measured between January and February 2021 at an urban site in Gwangju in order to identify the major factors that determine their size distributions. Their size distributions during the study period were mainly divided into two groups. In the first group, PM, NO₃^-, SO₄^2-, NH₄⁺ and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) exhibited bi-modal size distributions with a dominant condensation mode at a particle size of 0.32 ㎛. This group was dominated by local production of secondary water-soluble components under atmospheric stagnation and low relative humidity (RH) conditions, rather than long-range transportation of aerosol particles from China. On the other hand, in the second group, they showed tri-modal size distributions with a very pronounced droplet mode at a diameter of 1.0 ㎛. These size distributions were attributable to the local generation and accumulation of secondary aerosol particles under atmospheric conditions such as atmospheric stagnation and high RH, and an increase in the influx of atmospheric aerosol particles by long-distance transportation abroad. Contributions of droplet mode NO₃^-, SO₄^2-, NH₄⁺ and WSOC to fine particles in the second group were significantly higher than those in the first group period. However, their condensation mode contributions were about two-fold higher in the first group than in the second group. The significant difference in the size distribution of the accumulation mode of the WSOC and secondary ionic components between the two groups was due to the influx of aerosol particles with a long residence time by long-distance transport from China and local weather conditions (e.g., RH).

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.72-83
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• 1989

Twenty-five atmospheric particulates were collected using a high volume aerosol sampler from Septermber to December, 1988 on a site located on the West coast of Korea and analysed for twelve elements (Na, Mg, Al, Mn, Fe, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Ag, Cd, and Pb) by AAS. The particles being mainly crustal minerals, large quantity of spherical fly ashes were also observed. In order to identify the origin of trace metals in atmospheric particulates, enrichment factor, interelemental correlation and factor analysis were performed. Based upon these analysis, the twelve elements can be classified into three groups; the elements dominantly present in soil particles (Al, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni), those in sea salt aerosols (Na and Mg), and those in air pollution-derived particles (Cu, Cd, Pb, Ag and Zn).

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.21 no.E3
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• pp.87-94
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• 2005

Wet scavenging by rain drops is a most important removal process of air pollutants. In order to study the scavenging mechanisms of aerosol particles, the characteristics of chemical components in the rain water were examined as a function of the amount of rainfall. Rain water were collected continuously and separated into the soluble and insoluble components. The elemental concentrations in both components were determined by a PIXE analysis. The physical and chemical characteristics of atmospheric aerosols during the rainfall events were measured simultaneously. The elemental concentrations in rain water decreased substantially just after rain started and then gradually declined in subsequential rain fall exceeding 1.0 mm. The large particles were scavenged more easily than the fine particles. Fe, Ti and Si in rain water were in high insoluble state. Contrarily, almost whole of S was dissolved in rain water.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2024

In this study, the most suitable sampling methods for the bimodal mass distribution characteristics and individual particle analysis of atmospheric aerosols were investigated. Samples collected in Quartz, Teflon, and Nuclepore filters were analyzed for individual particles using scanning electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM/EDS). Then, the pore diameter of the filter and the collection flow rate were determined using the theoretical collection efficiency calculation formula for two-stage separation sample collection of coarse and fine particles. The Nuclepore filter was found to be the most suitable filter for identifying the physical and chemical characteristics of atmospheric aerosols since it was able to separate the sample and count the different sized particles better than either Quartz or Teflon. Nuclepore filters with 8.0 ㎛ and 0.4 ㎛ pores were connected in series and exposed to a flow rate of 16.7 L/min for two-stage separation sampling. The results show that it is possible to separate and collect both coarse and fine particles. We expect that the proposed methodology will be used for future individual particle analysis of atmospheric aerosols and related research.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.11-17
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• 1987

Atmospheric particulate matter (A.P.M.) was collected on quartz fiber filters from March 1985 to February 1986 at Chung-Ang University according to particle size using Andersen high-volume air smapler, and benzo (a) pyrene concentration in these particulates were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The annual arithmetic mean concentration of A.P.M. was 115.50$\mug/m^3$. The annual arithmetic mean concentrations of coarse particles and fine particles in A.P.M. were 52.54$\mum/m^3$ and 62.96$\mum/m^3$ respectively. THe annual arithmetic mean concentration of benzo(a)pyrene in A.P.M. was 1.44$ng/m^3$. THe annual arithmetic mean concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene in coarse particles and fine particles were 0.05 $ng/m^3$ and 1.39 $ng/m^3$ respectively. Thus, the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene showed maldistribution of 96.53% in fine particle. A.P.M. showed wide fluctuation according to the season. The concentration of A.P.M. was lowest in summer and high in spring and winter. Coarse and fine particle concentrations in A.P.M. were highest in spring and winter, respectively. The concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene was highest in winter and lowest in summer. The concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene in fine and coarse particles were highest in winter and spring, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 1991

Total suspended particulates (TSP) in the atmosphere was collected and size-fractionated by Andersen high volume air sampler for one year (Mar. 1987 $\sim$ Feb. 1988) in Seoul. The concentrations of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals were determined to investigate the atmospheric concentrations, seasonal variations and its relationship with the size distribution of suspended particulate matter. The arithmetic mean concentration of total suspended particulates was 200.44 $\mug/m^3$. The concentrations of heavy metals were 2433.80 for Fe, 629.49 for Zn, 600.71 for Pb, 143.87 for Cu, and 107.21 $ng/m^3$ for Mn, respectively. The concentrations of PAHs were 3.83 for benzo(a) pyrene, 2.95 for benzo(k)fluoranthene, and 4.42 $ng/m^3$ for benzo(ghi)perylene, respectively. PAHs, Pb and Zn abounded in particles below 2.0 $\mu$m, while Fe and Mn aboounded in particles above 2.0 $\mu$m. TSP and its chemical compositions showed the seasonal variations. The concentrations of anthrophogenic pollutants like TSP, PAHs and heavy metals in the fine particles were highest in winter and lowest in summer. PAHs and Pb analyzed showed significant correlations between each other and between TSP concentration in fine particles, indicating that the particles in which they are contained have a similar behavior in the atmosphere.