Modification of sea-salt aerosols over the coastal area in china

Abstract

Aerosol particles over the coastal area are subject to the modification of their chemical composition during their transport and diffusion. For examining the modification, the marine aerosol particles are collected at an island, East China Sea. Comparison of elemental composition of the marine aerosols with that of the samples collected at a coastal site, e.g. in Shanghai, was made. The results of chemical analysis show that the loss of chlorine component in aerosol particles is one of the main characteristics in the course of diffusion of marine aerosols into the coastal continent. Sulphur is a dominant component for fine particles in both marine and coastal aerosols. The relation of particle number concentration and particle size distribution to the meteorological conditions was discussed briefly. These results can be used as a reference in the estimation of equivalent refractive index of the aerosols for radiation transfer.