Ubiquitous influence of wildfire emissions and secondary organic aerosol on summertime atmospheric aerosol in the forested Great Lakes region

TitleUbiquitous influence of wildfire emissions and secondary organic aerosol on summertime atmospheric aerosol in the forested Great Lakes region
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsGunsch MJ, May NW, Wen M, Bottenus CLH, Gardner DJ, VanReken TM, Bertman SB, Hopke PK, Ault AP, Pratt KA
JournalAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Volume18
Pagination3701 - 3715
Date PublishedJan-01-2018
Abstract

Long-range aerosol transport affects locations hundreds of kilometers from the point of emission, leading to distant particle sources influencing rural environments that have few major local sources. Source apportionment was conducted using real-time aerosol chemistry measurements made in July 2014 at the forested University of Michigan Biological Station near Pellston, Michigan, a site representative of the remote forested Great Lakes region. Size-resolved chemical composition of individual 0.5–2.0 µm particles was measured using an aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ATOFMS), and non-refractory aerosol mass less than 1 µm (PM1) was measured with a high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-AMS). The field site was influenced by air masses transporting Canadian wildfire emissions and urban pollution from Milwaukee and Chicago. During wildfireinfluenced periods, 0.5–2.0 µm particles were primarily aged biomass burning particles (88 % by number). These particles were heavily coated with secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed during transport, with organics (average O/C ratio of 0.8) contributing 89 % of the PM1 mass. During urban-influenced periods, organic carbon, elemental carbon– organic carbon, and aged biomass burning particles were identified, with inorganic secondary species (ammonium, sulfate, and nitrate) contributing 41 % of the PM1 mass, indicative of atmospheric processing. With current models underpredicting organic carbon in this region and biomass burning being the largest combustion contributor to SOA by mass, these results highlight the importance for regional chemical transport models to accurately predict the impact of longrange transported particles on air quality in the upper Midwest, United States, particularly considering increasing intensity and frequency of Canadian wildfires.

URLhttps://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/3701/2018/https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/3701/2018/acp-18-3701-2018.pdfhttps://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/3701/2018/acp-18-3701-2018-supplement.pdf
DOI10.5194/acp-18-3701-201810.5194/acp-18-3701-2018-supplement