CHEMISTRY OF AEROSOLS

Analyzing the composition of aerosols collected on Mt. Pico

Photo: L. Harkness

• Describe how the high volume sampler works.

• Write observations of the filters.

VIDEO NOTES:

VIDEO: COLLECTING AEROSOLS WITH THE SAMPLERS

Video: L. Harkness

Click here for the video!!

• Describe how instruments and filters are prepared.

• How does the OC/EC work?

• What do the colored lines on the screen represent?

VIDEO NOTES:

VIDEO: ANALYZING FILTER SAMPLES FOR CARBON

Video: L. Harkness

Click here for the video!!

• Analyze graphs of OC data from various dates

• Research the weather that day and previous 5 days

• From which land mass could the aerosols have come from?

• Research any possible events that would cause high levels of organic aerosols around that date.

TODAY’S TASKS:

• www.wunderground.comSearch “Pico, Portugal”History – go to day of event

and the days prior; look at wind direction• http://

fires.globalincidentmap.com/home.php

Put in date range and check for fires in North America

SITES TO USE:

GLOBAL ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION

http://www.lsrhs.net/departments/science/faculty/brandesa/images/winds.jpg

EXAMPLES OF DATA:

9/5/2013 9/6/2013 9/7/2013 9/8/2013 9/9/2013 9/10/2013 9/11/2013 9/12/20130

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

September Non-Event Opt OC

ugC/

M3

air

Graph provided by: S. Schum

EXAMPLES OF DATA:

7/10/2013 7/11/2013 7/12/2013 7/13/2013 7/14/20130

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

2nd July Event Opt OCug

C/M

3 ai

r

Graph provided by: S. Schum

• The difference between an event and a non-event is the amount of carbon in micrograms per cubic meter

• OC (organic carbon): soot, carbon from life sources (decomposition, trees – oils, burning, marine organisms)

• EC (elemental carbon): similar to graphite

EXAMPLES OF DATA: