Temporal variability in fine carbonaceous aerosol over two years in two megacities: Beijing and Toronto

Abstract

Time-series of weekly total carbon (TC) concentrations of fine aerosol particles (PM2.5) in Beijing and Toronto were compared to investigate their respective levels and temporal patterns over two years from August 2001 through July 2003. In addition to this comparison, differences in the factors contributing to the observed concentrations and their temporal variations are discussed. Based upon past knowledge about the two megacities with highly contrasting air pollutant levels, it is not surprising that the average TC concentration in Beijing (31.5 µg C m−3) was greater than that in Toronto by a factor of 8.3. Despite their large concentration differences, in both cities TC comprised a similarly large component of PM2.5. TC concentrations exhibited very different seasonal patterns between the two cities. In Beijing, TC experienced higher levels and greater weekly fluctuations in winter whereas in Toronto this behavior was seen in summer. As a result, the greatest gap in TC concentrations between Beijing and Toronto (by a factor of 12.7) occurred in winter, while the smallest gap (a factor of 4.6) was in summer. In Beijing, seasonal variations in the emissions probably played a greater role than meteorology in influencing the TC seasonality, while in Toronto during the warm months more than 80% of the hourly winds were recorded from the south, along with many potential anthropogenic sources for the days with high TC concentrations. This comparison of the differences provides insight into the major factors affecting carbonaceous aerosol in each city.