Monitoring of airborne particulate mass and number concentrations in the UK atmosphere

Yin, Jianxin (2002). Monitoring of airborne particulate mass and number concentrations in the UK atmosphere. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

An investigation of physical and chemical characteristics of atmospheric aerosols was conducted at sites in the South East of England in collaboration with Stanger Science and Environment, and in Birmingham as part of the PUMA collaborative programme. Data analyses were carried out on measurements by SMPS (particle numbers and size distribution in the range 11-450 nm) and TEOM (PM2.5 and PM10) at urban roadside, urban background, and rural sites. Chemical measurements were also made with Partisol and Dichotomous instruments at a rural and the Birmingham site.

PM10 was generally dominated by fine particles at all sites, but both fine and coarse particle concentrations were elevated at the roadside due to both exhaust emissions and re-suspension of dusts, influenced by both wind speeds and human activities. Whilst strong correlations were always observed between PM10 and PM2.5 for all sites, the relationships between PM10, PM2.5 and particle numbers varied considerably with sites and seasons. The particle number size distribution was clearly distinct between urban and rural sites, indicating small number mode diameters at urban road (24.6-32.8 nm), slightly larger at urban background (26.4-50.5 nm) and great variations at the rural site (15-104 nm), where the formation of nuclei particles was identified. Extremely high nocturnal nitrate concentrations were observed at the rural site when huge differences in PM10 between TEOM and Partisol occurred.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):