• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the main cause of visibility impairment by analyzing the contributions of the light extinction coefficient of major air pollution components and the change of the light extinction coefficient by relative humidity. Methods: The characteristics of the light extinction coefficient calculated by the photochemical method using fine particle component data measured in 2015 in the Gwangju area were examined. Results: The extinction efficiency per unit mass of $PM_{2.5}$ particles was $4.5m^2/g$ and that of $PM_{10-2.5}$ particles was $0.6m^2/g$. This difference indicates that most of the visibility impairment in Gwangju was caused by $PM_{2.5}$ particles. When visibility was poor, the contribution of ammonium sulphate and ammonium nitrate was significantly increased. Relative humidity was also a major cause of visibility decay. The influx of air currents in Gwangju was mostly caused by the long distance movement of pollutants emitted from the eastern part of China. Ammonium sulphate and ammonium nitrate, which are hygroscopic secondary contaminants, were the main causative agents of visibility impairment. Conclusions: Ammonium sulphate and ammonium nitrate were the main causative agents of visibility impairment in Gwangju. The influx of air currents in Gwangju was mostly caused by the long distance movement of pollutants emitted from the eastern part of China.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.64-74
• /
• 2017

In this study, we have analyzed relationship between the measured Water Soluble Organic Carbon (WSOC) concentrations and the estimated aerosol water content of $PM_{10}$ (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to $10{\mu}m$) for the period between September 2006 and August 2007 at Seoul, Korea. Water content of $PM_{10}$ was estimated by using a gas/particle equilibrium model, Simulating composition of Atmospheric Particles at Equilibrium 2 (SCAPE2). The WSOC concentrations showed low correlation with Elemental Carbon (EC), but Water Insoluble Organic Carbon (WISOC) were highly correlated with EC. It seemed that hydrophilic groups were produced by secondary formation rather than primary formation. As with the previous studies, WSOC showed good correlation with secondary ions ($NO_3{^-}$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NH_4{^+}$), especially WSOC was highly correlated with $NO_3{^-}$ that is a secondary ion formed by photochemical oxidation from more local sources than $SO_4{^{2-}}$. No apparent correlation between the measured WSOC and estimated water content was observed. However, WSOC showed good correlation with estimated water content when it was assumed that relative humidity was higher than the deliquescence relative humidity of the system. In conclusion, WSOC is correlated with water content by hygroscopic ions and it is expected that nitrate play an important role among the water content and WSOC.