• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.64-73
• /
• 2013

Because some particulate matter emission sources may inherently produce soluble species, or some soluble species may be produced during atmospheric transport, it is important to understand the origin of a particles's solubility when water-soluble tracers are used in source apportionment studies. Laboratory experiments were performed on three types of soils (Mongolia grassland, Mongolia desert, and Korean rural soils), to study the impact of acidification by nitric acid vapor on the solubility of metals in the soils. To achieve this goal, concentrations of water-soluble metals (Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Mn, and Fe) in the soils measured before and after acidification. Contributions of concentrations of water-soluble metal species before and after acidification attack to their total concentrations varied little with soil type. Concentrations of water-soluble Mg, Al, K, Ca, Mn, and Fe from the soils after interaction with nitric acid vapor increased, with significant increases in soluble Ca and Mn for all soil types suggesting soil acidification enhances the amount of leachable metal species in soil dust. There was little increase in water-soluble Na and K after acidification for each soil type. This experiment demonstrates that quantities of water-soluble metal species in particulate matter are produced under high gaseous nitric acid conditions.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.397-407
• /
• 2022

Mineralogical analysis of the bedrock of the Gobi Desert in southern Mongolia, the source of Asian dust, was conducted to trace the geological origin of the constituent minerals of Asian dust. The bedrock of the source of Asian dust consists of Paleozoic volcanics and volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks, Paleozoic granitic rocks, and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. Paleozoic volcanics and volcaniclastic sediments lithified compactly, underwent greenschist metamorphism, and deformed to form mountain ranges. Mesozoic sedimentary rocks fill the basin between the mountain ranges of Paleozoic strata. In comparison to Paleozoic volcanic and sedimentary rocks, Mesozoic sedimentary rocks have lower contents of chlorite and plagioclase, but high contents of clay minerals including interstratified illite-smectite, smectite, and kaolinite. Paleozoic granites characteristically contain amphibole and biotite. Compared with the mineral composition of bedrock in source, Asian dust is a mixture of detrital particles originating from Paleozoic and Mesozoic bedrocks. However, the mineral composition of Mesozoic sedimentary rocks is closer to that of Asian dust. Less lithified Mesozoic sedimentary rocks easily disintegrated to form silty soils which are deflated to form Asian dust.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.9-20
• /
• 2004

Growth and nutrients of Xinjiang poplar (Populus alba var. pyramidalis) seedlings treated with fertilizers and soil amendments were examined in nursery and windbreak at Dengkou after 6 months of treatments in Inner Mongolia, China. Soil water content was $10\%$ higher than that at most soils in desert. Height and diameter growth and foliar nitrogen (N) concentration were higher at N and nitrogen plus phosphorus (N+P) fertilizer treatments than other treatments. However, there were no differences in foliar P concentration among treatments in windbreak and foliar P concentration was higher at control than at other treatments in nursery. Yuho treatment increased height and diameter growth. Nitrogen appeared an influenciug factor for early growth of Xinjiang poplar, and P had a minor affect on growth. More long-time studies were needed to elucidate the effects of fertilizers and soil amendments on growth and nutrients of Xinjiang poplar.