• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.99-108
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• 2011

To establish area specific control strategies for the reduction of the ozone concentration, the Ozone Isopleth Plotting Package for Research(OZIPR) model has been widely used. However, the model results tend to changed by various input parameters such as the background concentration, emission amount of NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and meteorological condition. Thus, sensitivity analysis should be required to ensure the reliability of the result. The OZIPR modeling results for five local government districts in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA) in June 2000 were used for the sensitivity analysis. The sensitivity analysis result showed that the modeling result of the SMA being VOC-limited region be still valid for a wide range of input parameters' variation. The estimated ozone concentrations were positively related with the initial VOCs concentrations while were negatively related with the initial NOx concentrations. But, the degree of the variations at each local district was different suggesting area specific characteristics being also important. Among the five local governments, Suwon was chosen to identify other variance through the period from April to September in 2000. The monthly modeling results show different ozone values, but still showing the characteristics of VOCs-limited region. Limitations due to not considering long range transport and transfer from neighbor area, limitation of input data, error between observed data and estimated data are all discussed.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.97-109
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• 2007

Vertical distribution and optical properties of atmospheric aerosols above the Korean peninsula are quite important to estimate effects of aerosol on atmospheric environment and regional radiative forcing. For the first time in Korea, vertical microphysical properties of atmospheric aerosol obtained by inversion algorithm were analyzed based on optical data of multi-wavelength Raman lidar system developed by the Advanced Environmental Monitoring Research Center (ADEMRC), Gwangju Institute Science and Technology (GIST). Data collected on 14 June 2004 at Gwangju ($35.10^{\circ}N,\;126.53^{\circ}E$) and 27 May 2005 at Anmyeon island ($36.32^{\circ}N,\;126.19^{\circ}E$) were used as raw optical data for inversion algorithm. Siberian forest fire smoke and local originated haze were observed above and within the height of PBL, respectively on 14 June 2004 according to NOAA/Hysplit backstrajectory analysis. The inversion of lidar optical data resulted in particle effective radii around $0.31{\sim}0.33{\mu}m$, single scattering albedo between $0.964{\sim}0.977$ at 532 nm in PBL and effective radii of $0.27{\mu}m$ and single scattering albedo between $0.923{\sim}0.924$ above PBL. In the case on 27 May 2005, biomass burning from east China was a main source of aerosol plume. The inversion results of the data on 27 May 2005 were found to be particle effective radii between $0.23{\sim}0.24{\mu}m$, single scattering albedo around $0.924{\sim}0.929$ at 532 nm. Additionally, the inversion values were well matched with those of Sun/sky radiometer in measurement period.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.418-429
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• 2018

Measurements of 24-hr size-segregated ambient particles were made at an urban site of Gwangju under high pressure conditions occurred in the Korean Peninsula late in March 2018. The aim of this study was to understand the effect of air stagnation on mass size distributions and formation pathways of water-soluble organic and inorganic components. During the study period, the $NO_3{^-}$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NH_4{^+}$, water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), and humic-like substances(HULIS) exhibited mostly bi-modal size distributions peaking at 1.0 and $6.2{\mu}m$, with predominant droplet modes. In particular, outstanding droplet mode size distributions were observed on March 25 when a severe haze occurred due to stable air conditions and long range transport of aerosol particles from northeastern regions of China. Air stagnation conditions and high relative humidity during the study period resulted in accumulation of primary aerosol particles from local emission sources and enhanced formation of secondary ionic and organic aerosols through aqueous-phase oxidations of $SO_2$, $NO_2$, $NH_3$, and volatile organic compounds, leading to their dominant droplet mode size distributions at particle size of $1.0{\mu}m$. From the size distribution of $K^+$ in accumulation mode, it can be inferred that in addition to the secondary organic aerosol formations, accumulation mode WSOC and HULIS could be partly attributed to biomass burning emissions.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.159-172
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• 2019

To investigate the influence of pollution events on the chemical composition and formation processes of aerosol particles, 24-h integrated size-segregated particulate matter (PM) was collected during the fall season at an urban site of Gwangju, Korea and was used to determine the concentrations of mass, water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and ionic species. Furthermore, black carbon (BC) concentrations were observed with an aethalometer. The entire sampling period was classified into four periods, i.e., typical, pollution event I, pollution event II, and an Asian dust event. Stable meteorological conditions (e.g., low wind speed, high surface pressure, and high relative humidity) observed during the two pollution events led to accumulation of aerosol particles and increased formation of secondary organic and inorganic aerosol species, thus causing $PM_{2.5}$ increase. Furthermore, these stable conditions resulted in the predominant condensation or droplet mode size distributions of PM, WSOC, $NO_3{^-}$, and $SO{_4}^{2-}$. However, difference in the accumulation mode size distributions of secondary water-soluble species between pollution events I and II could be attributed to the difference in transport pathways of air masses from high-pollution regions and the formation processes for the secondary chemical species. The average absorption ${\AA}ngstr{\ddot{o}}m$ exponent ($AAE_{370-950}$) for 370-950 nm wavelengths > 1.0 indicates that the BC particles from traffic emissions were likely mixed with light absorbing brown carbon (BrC) from biomass burning (BB) emissions. It was found that light absorption by BrC in the near UV range was affected by both secondary organic aerosol and BB emissions. Overall, the pollution events observed during fall at the study site can be due to the synergy of unfavorable meteorological conditions, enhanced secondary formation, local emissions, and long-range transportation of air masses from upwind polluted areas.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.91-104
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• 2019

In this study, hourly measurements of $PM_{2.5}$ and its major chemical constituents such as organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), and ionic species were made between January 15 and February 10, 2018 at the air pollution intensive monitering station in Gwangju. In addition, 24-hr integrated $PM_{2.5}$ samples were collected at the same site and analyzed for OC, EC, water-soluble OC (WSOC), humic-like substance (HULIS), and ionic species. Over the whole study period, the organic aerosols (=$1.6{\times}OC$) and $NO_3{^-}$ concentrations contributed 26.6% and 21.0% to $PM_{2.5}$, respectively. OC and EC concentrations were mainly attributed to traffic emissions with some contribution from biomass burning emissions. Moreover, strong correlations of OC with WSOC, HULIS, and $NO_3{^-}$ suggest that some of the organic aerosols were likely formed through atmospheric oxidation processes of hydrocarbon compounds from traffic emissions. For the period between January 18 and 22 when $PM_{2.5}$ pollution episode occurred, concentrations of three secondary ionic species ($=SO{_4}^{2-}+NO_3{^-}+NH_4{^+}$) and organic matter contributed on average 50.8 and 20.1% of $PM_{2.5}$, respectively, with the highest contribution from $NO_3{^-}$. Synoptic charts, air mass backward trajectories, and local meteorological conditions supported that high $PM_{2.5}$ pollution was resulted from long-range transport of haze particles lingering over northeastern China, accumulation of local emissions, and local production of secondary aerosols. During the $PM_{2.5}$ pollution episode, enhanced $SO{_4}^{2-}$ was more due to the long-range transport of aerosol particles from China rather than local secondary production from $SO_2$. Increasing rate in $NO_3{^-}$ was substantially greater than $NO_2$ and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ increasing rates, suggesting that the increased concentration of $NO_3{^-}$ during the pollution episode was attributed to enhanced formation of local $NO_3{^-}$ through heterogenous reactions of $NO_2$, rather than impact by long-range transportation from China.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.457-468
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• 2018

To improve understanding of the physico-chemical characteristics of aerosols in the national park and comparing the air pollution between national park and the urban area nearby national park, the aerosol characterization study was conducted in Bukhansan National Park, Seoul, from July through September 2017. Semi-continuous measurements of $PM_{2.5}$ using PILS (Particle Into Liquid System) coupled with IC (Ion Chromatography) and TOC (Total Organic Carbon) analyzer allowed quantification of concentrations of major ionic species($Cl^-$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NO_3{^-}$, $Na^+$, $NH_4{^+}$, $K^+$, $Mg{^{2+}}$ and $Ca{^{2+}}$) and water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) with 30-minute time resolution. The total mass concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ was measured by T640 (Teledyne) with 5-minute time resolution. The black carbon (BC) and ozone were measured with a minute time resolution. The timeline of aerosol chemical compositions reveals a strong influence from urban area (Seoul) at the site in Bukhansan National Park. Inorganic aerosol composition was observed to be dominated by ammoniated sulfate at most times with ranging from $0.1{\sim}32.6{\mu}g/m^3$ (6.5~76.1% of total mass of $PM_{2.5}$). The concentration of ammonium nitrate, a potential indicator of the presence of local source, ranged from below detection limits to $20{\mu}g/m^3$ and was observed to be highest during times of maximum local urban (Seoul) impact. The total mass of $PM_{2.5}$ in Bukhansan National Park was observed to be 10~23% lower than the total mass of $PM_{2.5}$ in urban area (Gireum-dong and Bulgwang-dong, Seoul). In general, ozone concentration in Bukhansan National Park was observed to be similar or higher than urban sites in Seoul, suggesting additional biogenic VOCs with $NO_x$ from vehicle emission were to be precursors for ozone formation in Bukhansan National Park.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.207-222
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• 2018

In this study, light absorption of carbonaceous species in $PM_{2.5}$ was investigated using a dual-spot 7-wavelength Aethalometer(model AE33) with 1-min time interval between January 01 and September 30, 2017 at an urban site of Gwangju. During the study period, two Asian dust (AD) events occurred in April (AD I) and May (AD II), respectively, during which light absorption in total suspended particles was observed. Black carbon (BC) was the dominant light absorbing aerosol component at all wavelengths over the study period. Light absorption coefficients by aerosol particles were found to have 2.7~3.3 times higher at 370 nm than at 880 nm. This would be attributed to light absorbing organic aerosols, which is called brown carbon (BrC), as well as BC as absorbing agents of aerosol particles. Monthly average absorption ${{\AA}}ngstr{\ddot{o}}m$ exponent ($AAE_{370-950nm}$) calculated over wavelength range of 370~950 nm ranged from 1.10 to 1.35, which was lower than the $AAE_{370-520nm}$ values ranging from 1.19~1.68 that was enhanced due to the presence of BrC. The estimated $AAE_{370-660nm}$ of BrC ranged from 2.2 to 7.5 with an average of 4.22, which was fairly consistent to the values reported by previous studies. The BrC absorption at 370 nm contributed 10.4~28.4% to the total aerosol absorption, with higher contribution in winter and spring and lower in summer. Average $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations were $108{\pm}36$ and $24{\pm}14{\mu}g/m^3$ during AD I, respectively, and $164{\pm}66$ and $43{\pm}26{\mu}g/m^3$ during AD II, respectively, implying the greater contribution of local pollution and/or regional pollution to $PM_{2.5}$ during the AD II. BC concentration and aerosol light absorption at 370 nm were relatively high in AD II, compared to those in AD I. Strong spectral dependence of aerosol light absorption was clearly found during the two AD events. $AAE_{370-660nm}$ of both light absorbing organic aerosols and dust particles during the AD I and II was $4.8{\pm}0.5$ and $6.2{\pm}0.7$, respectively. Higher AAE value during the AD II could be attributed to mixed enhanced urban pollution and dust aerosols. Absorption contribution by the light absorbing organic and dust aerosols estimated at 370 nm to the total light absorption was approximately 19% before and after the AD events, but it increased to 32.9~35.0% during the AD events. In conclusion, results from this study support enhancement of the aerosol light absorption due to Asian dust particles observed at the site.

• Atmosphere
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.141-148
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• 2015

Recently increased anthropogenic aerosols change the radiative energy balance and affect human life. The management of air quality requires monitoring both the local emissions and transported pollutants. In order to estimate the quantitative contribution of long-range transport from remote sources on aerosol concentrations in Seoul, the airmasses were classified into five types with respect to their pathways. When airmass came from west over strong emission regions in China, high concentrations of $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC) were found, even higher than those for the stagnated airmass. High OC concentrations were found when airmass came from north while BC, EC, and $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations were lower than those of the stagnated airmasses. During dust events, the $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ concentrations increased significantly while carbonaceous aerosol concentrations did not increased. The temporal variations of aerosol concentrations in Seoul were affected by the seasonal variations of airmass pathways. The high $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations over $100{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ appeared most frequently when the airmasses came from west.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.298-301
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• 2007

Vertical distribution and optical properties of atmospheric aerosols above the Korean peninsula are quite important to estimate effects of aerosol on atmospheric environment and regional radiative forcing. For the first time in Korea, vertical microphysical properties of atmospheric aerosol obtained by inversion algorithm were analyzed based on optical data of multi-wavelength Raman lidar system developed by the Advanced Environmental Monitoring Research Center (ADEMRC), Gwangju Institute Science and Technology (GIST). Data collected on 14 June 2004 at Gwangju ($35.10^{\circ}N$, $126.53^{\circ}E$) and 27 May 2005 at Anmyeon island ($36.32^{\circ}N$, $126.19^{\circ}E$) were used as raw optical data for inversion algorithm. Siberian forest fire smoke and local originated haze were observed above and within the height of PBL, respectively on 14 June 2004 according to NOAA/Hysplit backstrajectory analysis. The inversion of lidar optical data resulted in particle effective radii around 0.32 ${\mu}m$, single scattering albedo between 0.97 at 532 nm in PBL and effective radii of 0.27 ${\mu}m$ and single scattering albedo of 0.92 above PBL. In the case on 27 May 2005, biomass burning from east China was a main source of aerosol plume. The inversion results of the data on 27 May 2005 were found to be particle effective radii between 0.24 ${\mu}m$, single scattering albedo around 0.91 at 532 nm. Additionally, the inversion values were well matched with those of Sun/sky radiometer in measurement period.

• Atmosphere
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.469-477
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• 2018

We performed the comparison of observed $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ at both the Yonsei University and the AIRKOREA site in the same Seodaemun-gu district, Seoul from March to December 2016. Generally, the moderate correlations between two sites were found for both $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$, but monthly difference was somewhat occurred, implying that the measurement situation is not equally maintained even in a closely located area. Particularly correlations became weaker in June and July, which seems the impact of rainy conditions. Correlations between two stations were higher for $PM_{10}$ compared to $PM_{2.5}$, probably indicating the spatially larger difference of fine mode particle. Monthly mean variation was similar between two sites showing a maximum in March and minimum in August. Diurnal variation was somewhat different: morning peak at Yonsei University but evening peak at the Seodaemun-gu AIRKOREA site, reflecting the difference of local air condition. We also compared the extent of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ according to the local wind speed and direction. In general, the level of particulate matter was high when the wind is blowing from the northwestern area with low wind speed, meaning the high accumulation effect of transported air particles. Findings of this study can be usefully considered for the investigation about the discrepancy of aerosol measurement in a local scale.