Concentration and seasonal variation of 10Be in surface aerosols of Lhasa, Tibet

Abstract

Thirty samples of total suspended particles were collected at a site in western part of Lhasa, Tibet from August 2006 to July 2007. The 10Be concentrations were determined by Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS). Analysis of correlation between 10Be concentrations and meteorological factors revealed that the wet scavenging has little effect on 10Be. 10Be can be used as a proxy of transport processes of the upper atmosphere over the Tibetan Plateau. Analysis of correlation between 10Be concentrations and NCEP reanalysis data demonstrated that higher 10Be concentrations in spring were probably caused by the atmosphere exchange from stratosphere to troposphere during February to June. Lower 10Be concentrations during August to September were consistent with the synchronous lower O3 values, suggestive of both 10Be and O3 were probably influenced by the atmosphere exchange from troposphere to stratosphere.