<title>Mixed multiway analysis of airborne particle composition data</title>

Abstract

Airborne particle composition data were obtained from week long samples collected at the northernmost manned site in the world, Alert, Northwest Territories, Canada, during the period of 1980 to 1991. The results of previous 2-way and 3- way analysis of these data suggested that a mixed 2-way and 3-way model might better represent the data. The methodology to calculate such a mixed model has just been developed and this method is the Multilinear Engine (ME). ME has been used to estimate a mixed 2-way/3-way model for the Alert aerosol data. Five 2-way and two 3-way factors have been found to provide the best fit and interpretation of the data. Each factor represents a probable source with a distinctive compositional profile and seasonal variations. The five 2- way factors are (i) winter Arctic haze (ii) soil (iii) sea salt, (iv) sulfate with high acidity and (v) iodine. The two 3-way factors are (i) bromine and (ii) biogenic sulfur. The results obtained are consistent with the current understanding of the Arctic aerosol.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.