The isotopic patterns and source apportionment of nitrate and ammonium
in atmospheric aerosol
Abstract
Atmospheric aerosol affects climate, ecology, visibility, and public
health and has attracted widespread attention. The fraction of inorganic
aerosols in the atmosphere is significant and constitute about one-third
of fine aerosol mass. The sources and formation processes of inorganic
nitrogen aerosols in the atmosphere are with great uncertainty and
therefore their long-term field measurement is critical. This study
conducted a year-round field measurement of TSP, PM2.5 and PM1.0 in five
different sites (ZJK, CP, CY DX, and TJ) in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei
region to determine the concentrations of water-soluble inorganic ions
(WSIIs) and also the isotopic composition of inorganic nitrogen
(δ15N-NH4+, δ15N-NO3-, and δ18O-NO3-) to explore the sources and
formation processes. The seasonal variation of δ15N-NO3- and δ15N-NH4+
were reflective of the relative contributions of the main source and
also the effects of meteorological conditions. The source apportionment
identified fossil fuel combustion (38.2 ~ 50.6%),
agricultural emissions (18 ~ 24.7%), biomass burning
(16.3 ~ 22.7%), and road dust/soil (8.7
~ 23.4%) as the main sources of inorganic aerosols in
Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The located sources and regional migration
(or transboundary pollution) contribute to the level of inorganic
aerosol pollution. In winter, the aerosol of this region was affected by
the air mass coming from the northwest. While in spring and summer, the
air mass was mainly from the South China. The low temperature and high
relative humidity favored the formation of inorganic nitrogen aerosol,
while solar radiation affected the formation processes of the inorganic
aerosols by changing the oxidation pathway of NO3- and also accelerating
the volatilization and dissociation of NH4NO3. This study highlighted
the main source contributions of inorganic nitrogen aerosol by utilizing
N and O isotopes composition. Also, this study attached great importance
in understanding the effects of meteorological conditions on formation
and the contribution of regional transport.