Abstract
Abstract. In-situ chemical composition measurements of ambient aerosols have been used for characterizing the evolution of submicron aerosols from a large anthropogenic biomass burning (BB) event in Israel. A high resolution Time of Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (HR-RES-TOF-AMS) was used to follow the chemical evolution of BB aerosols during a night-long, extensive nationwide wood burning event and during the following day. While these types of extensive BB events are not common in this region, burning of agricultural waste is a common practice. The aging process of the BB aerosols was followed through their chemical, physical and optical properties. Mass spectrometric analysis of the aerosol organic component showed that aerosol aging is characterized by shifting from less oxidized fresh BB aerosols to more oxidized aerosols. Evidence for aerosol aging during the day following the BB event was indicated by an increase in the organic mass, its oxidation state, the total aerosol concentration, and a shift in the modal particle diameter. The effective broadband refractive index (EBRI) was derived using a white light optical particle counter (WELAS). The average EBRI for a mixed population of aerosols dominated by open fires was m = 1.53(±0.03) + 0.07i(±0.03), during the smoldering phase of the fires we found the EBRI to be m = 1.54(±0.01) + 0.04i(±0.01) compared to m = 1.49(±0.01) + 0.02i(±0.01) of the aged aerosols during the following day. This change indicates a decrease in the overall aerosol absorption and scattering. Elevated levels of particulate Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected during the entire event, which suggest possible implications for human health during such extensive event.
Highlights
Biomass burning aerosols are a product of natural fires and human-induced burning, such as wood or agricultural waste
We studied the chemical and physical evolution of biomass burning aerosols, during an extensive nationwide biomass burning event and during the following day
The stable meteorological conditions combined with the presence of biomass burning (BB) markers and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the aerosol population of the day after the burning event was used as evidence of the same population of aerosols
Summary
Biomass burning aerosols are a product of natural fires and human-induced burning, such as wood or agricultural waste. Biomass burning can be a source of primary organic aerosols, which make up a large fraction (20–90%) of the submicron particulate matter (Zhang et al, 2007; Murphy et al, 2006). The atmospheric evolution ( known as “aging”) of biomass burning aerosols and its consequences remains poorly characterized (Zhang et al, 2007; Murphy et al, 2006) and warrants a better understanding of the chemical and physical evolution of organic aerosols (Kiehl, 2007). This study aims to provide a detailed look at the aging process of an intensive biomass burning event in an urban environment by examining the changes in chemical composition, physical and optical properties of the emitted aerosols as they age, initially during night and during a few hours of day time
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