Abstract
Ambient particles whose aerodynamic diameters were not greater than 2.5 µm (fine fraction of Particulate Matter; PM2.5) and 1 µm (PM1; sub-fraction of PM2.5) were sampled at three sites in Upper Silesia (Poland): urban background site, rural background site, and urban traffic site. In total, 240 samples were collected between 2 August 2009 and 27 December 2010. The reflectance of the collected PM1 and PM2.5 samples was determined with a digital smoke stain reflectometer. The 24-h courses and seasonal changes of three determined optical parameters for PM1 and PM2.5 (absorption coefficient (a), mass absorption (σ), and mean light reflection coefficient (Rav)) were illustrated and discussed. The mean values of the regional background absorption coefficient (a) were 1.27 × 10−5 m−1 and 0.87 × 10−5 m−1 for PM2.5 and PM1, respectively. In Katowice (urban background), the mean absorption levels were 2.37 × 10−5 m−1 and 2.09 × 10−5 m−1 for PM2.5 and PM1, respectively. The highest values of the absorption coefficient for both PM fractions were found close to the highway (urban traffic site). In the heating season (winter), the absorption coefficient (a) for PM2.5 and PM1 increased significantly when compared with the non-heating season. The obtained results confirmed the thesis about the significant increase in the elemental PM2.5-bound carbon concentration caused by the intensified hard coal combustion in Upper Silesia in winter. Moreover, it turned out that the increase in the concentration of the PM2.5-bound sulphates was even higher, which resulted in the relative decrease of the elemental carbon content in this PM fraction in some areas. Consequently, the mass absorption value dropped there as well.
Highlights
It is known that atmospheric aerosol significantly affects the environment and the health condition of the population exposed to the aerosol particles
Twenty-four hours (24-h) PM1 and PM2.5 samples were collected at three sites in Upper Silesia, Poland
The detailed analysis of the data obtained at three sampling sites shows that at regional background site (RB) (Złoty Potok), the mean values of the coefficient of the light reflection by the PM2.5 layer were 33.44%, 25.2%, and 41.7% (Table 1)
Summary
It is known that atmospheric aerosol significantly affects the environment ( air) and the health condition of the population exposed to the aerosol particles. The atmospheric aerosol plays an important role in the world-range climatic changes as it can change the radiation balance of the world. The direct and indirect effects of aerosols represent the largest uncertainty in climate prediction [2]. It was estimated that the total aerosol influence on the radiation balance (averaged for the entire planet) is approx. The presence of sulphates constituting the dominant fraction in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was largely responsible for such a result [3]. Such changes were reported on the regional scale. It was estimated that the atmospheric aerosol caused a decrease of approx. Elemental carbon (EC), being a heavy solar radiation absorber, was found to be an important part of airborne particles [1,5,6,7,8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
