Sources of carbonaceous aerosol in the free troposphere

Abstract

In this study concentrations of organic (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) from free tropospheric (FT) fine particulate matter (PM) were measured from March to September, 2012 with a Semi-Continuous OC/EC carbon aerosol analyzer at the top of Mt. Bachelor (2.8 km a.s.l) in Central Oregon, U.S. The average concentrations of OC and EC in the FT were low (OC: 1.87 ± 6.10, EC: 0.07 ± 0.26 μg m−3; average ± SD) but much higher during specific pollution episodes. During springtime the highest OC and EC concentrations were measured for dry free tropospheric air masses, whereas during summertime the highest OC and EC concentrations were typically measured for more humid air masses that were uplifted from the boundary layer (BL). The highest OC and EC concentrations were measured during biomass burning episodes (3 h average OC: up to 146.0 μg m−3, EC up to 5.5 μg m−3). Elevated OC and EC concentrations were also measured during Asian Long Range Transport (LRT) episodes (OC: up to 3.6 μg m−3, EC up to 1.1 μg m−3). In addition, between episodes, an increase in OC was seen in the afternoon, possibly due to SOA formation. This SOA can then be exported to the FT via diurnal ventilation of the BL. For Asian LRT episodes the OC/EC ratios varied between 8 and 34, with an average of 17.9. For local biomass burning emissions OC/EC ratios were between 25 and 30. Higher OC/EC ratios (30–40) were observed for the biomass burning plumes originating from longer distances, possibly due to SOA formation.