Quantification of urban organic aerosols at a molecular level: Identification, abundance and seasonal variation

Abstract

Organic aerosol samples collected systematically throughout a complete annual cycle at four urban sites in southern California are examined by high-resolution gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. More than 80 organic compounds are quantified and their seasonal ambient concentration patterns are discussed. Primary organic aerosol constituents are readily identified, revealing an annual pattern, with high winter and low summer concentrations. In contrast, aliphatic dicarboxylic acids of possible secondary origin show a reverse pattern, with high concentrations in late spring/early summer. Concentration patterns similar to the secondary dicarboxylic acids also are found for aromatic polycarboxylic acids, certain lower molecular weight n-alkanoic acids, a nonanal and other compounds. Molecular markers characteristic of woodsmoke are identified, and their concentrations change by season in close agreement with prior estimates of the seasonal use of wood as a fuel. This data set can be used to evaluate the predictions of mathematical models for the atmospheric transport and reaction of organic aerosol constituents defined at a molecular level.

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