Concentrations and Compositions of Different Forms of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Atmospheric Aerosols in the Qingdao Coastal Region and over the Yellow and Bohai Sea

Abstract

The total suspended particulate (TSP) samples were collected in the Qingdao coastal region and over the Yellow and Bohai Sea from June to July in 2016. The diurnal and nightly TSP samples were also continuously collected in the Qingdao coastal region from August 6 to 15. The concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), dissolved total nitrogen (DTN), dissolved total phosphorus (DTP), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) in the TSP samples were analyzed. Results showed that the concentrations of different forms of nitrogen and phosphorus in Qingdao were higher than those over the Yellow and Bohai Sea during the same sampling period. The contribution of dissolved N was similar to that of insoluble N to TN in Qingdao, with the ratio of DTN to TN of 56%. However the DTN was the dominant contributor of TN over the Yellow and Bohai Sea, accounting for 72% of TN on average. The inorganic nitrogen was the dominant species of DTN in Qingdao and over the Yellow and Bohai Sea (YBS), accounting for 67% and 75% of DTN, respectively. The contribution of dissolved P to TP was similar to that of insoluble P to TP in Qingdao and over the Yellow and Bohai Sea, and the DTP accounted for 49% and 58% of TP in Qingdao and over YBS, respectively. The ratio of IP to DTP was slightly higher than that of OP, with values of 56% and 59% in Qingdao and over the YBS, respectively. The origin of the air mass affected the concentrations and compositions of nitrogen and phosphorus in the aerosols. The concentrations of DIN, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), TN, DIP, and dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) in the aerosols from southern air mass were higher than those from northern and marine air masses. The concentration of DON in the diurnal aerosol samples was similar to that in the nightly samples; however, the concentrations of DIN and TN were higher in the diurnal aerosols than those in the nightly aerosols. The DTN was the dominant species of TN in the diurnal and nightly aerosol samples, accounting for 79% of TN on average. Inorganic nitrogen was the dominant species of DTN in the diurnal and nightly aerosols. The ratio of DIN to DTN decreased from 70% in diurnal samples to 61% in nightly samples. The concentrations of DIP were close to that of DOP in the diurnal and nightly aerosols; however, the concentrations of TP were higher in the diurnal aerosols than in the nightly ones. The insoluble P was the dominant form of TP in the aerosols, accounting for 83% and 62% of TP during the day and night, respectively. The contribution of DTP to TP in the nightly aerosols samples was much higher than that in the diurnal aerosols. For both day and night samples, inorganic phosphorus was the dominant species of DTP in aerosols, with a ratio of 71%-77%.