New particle formation and growth associated with East-Asian long range transportation observed at Fukue Island, Japan in March 2012

Abstract

Time-resolved data for size distribution, number concentration and chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols were taken from March 9 to 16, 2012 during Fukue Site Atmospheric Aerosol Observation Campaign (128.7°E, 32.8°N) organized by ASEPH (Impacts of Aerosols in East Asia on Plants and Human Health) project. A scanning mobility particle sizer was employed to continuously measure the particle size distribution from 14 nm to 670 nm and the total number concentration of particles (>3 nm) was measured by a condensation particle counter. Very large amount of polluted air mass transportation (PM2.5 > 65 μg m−3) was observed on March 11, associated with a sudden increase in particle number concentration having a mobility diameter from 100 to 300 nm. The transported air mass contained anthropogenic pollutants such as sulfate (>20 μg m−3), nitrate (>15 μg m−3) and black carbon (>3 μg m−3). Typical new particle formation and growth events were also observed on March 12–13. The onset of particle formation and nucleation bursts was identified at around noon and it is considered that these were nucleated species near the island area. It was found that some new particle formation events were associated with the long range transportation of polluted air mass from East Asian region.