Skip to main content
Duke University Libraries
DukeSpace Scholarship by Duke Authors
  • Login
  • Ask
  • Menu
  • Login
  • Ask a Librarian
  • Search & Find
  • Using the Library
  • Research Support
  • Course Support
  • Libraries
  • About
View Item 
  •   DukeSpace
  • Duke Scholarly Works
  • Scholarly Articles
  • View Item
  •   DukeSpace
  • Duke Scholarly Works
  • Scholarly Articles
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Mass balance closure and the federal reference method for PM2.5 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Thumbnail
View / Download
657.3 Kb
Date
2004
Authors
Rees, Sarah L
Robinson, Allen L
Khlystov, Andrey
Stanier, Charles O
Pandis, Spyros N
Repository Usage Stats
230
views
574
downloads
Abstract
Daily ambient aerosol samples were taken in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from the summer 2001 to the winter 2002 as part of the Pittsburgh Air Quality Study (PAQS). The study measured PM2.5 mass by the Federal Reference Method (FRM) and the PM2.5 chemical composition by a variety of filter-based and continuous instruments. This paper examines the mass balance between the FRM-measured mass and the sum of the aerosol chemical components. For the 7-month study period, the average FRM-measured mass is 11\% greater than the sum of the mass of the aerosol chemical components. This mass balance discrepancy varies seasonally, with the average FRM-measured mass 17\% greater than the sum of the chemical components for the summer months, with discrepancies as large as 30\% during certain periods. Meanwhile, the FRM-measured mass was at or slightly below the sum of the chemical components for the winter months. The mass balance discrepancy and its seasonal shift cannot be explained by measurement uncertainty; instead the discrepancy is due to combination of retained aerosol water on the conditioned FRM filters and volatilization losses. The relative importance of these different effects varies with aerosol composition and causes the observed seasonal variation in the mass balance. The contribution of the aerosol water to the FRM-measured mass is estimated using continuous measurements of aerosol water at the site; volatilization losses are estimated from other filter-based instruments. Water contributes 16\% of the FRM mass in the summer, and 8\% of the FRM mass in the winter; it also appears responsible for episodes where the FRM-measured mass is significantly greater than the sum of components. Retention of water is greatest during acidic conditions, which commonly occur during the summer months. Volatilization losses are estimated at 5\% of the FRM mass during the summer, and 9\% for the winter. Volatilization losses appear to be most significant on days dominated by organic aerosol, or winter days with relatively high nitrate concentration. Accounting for the effects of water and volatilization losses closes the mass balance between the FRM and the sum of the chemical components, providing insight into the FRM measurements. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Type
Journal article
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/6547
Collections
  • Scholarly Articles
More Info
Show full item record
Open Access

Articles written by Duke faculty are made available through the campus open access policy. For more information see: Duke Open Access Policy

Rights for Collection: Scholarly Articles


Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info

Make Your Work Available Here

How to Deposit

Browse

All of DukeSpaceCommunities & CollectionsAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit DateThis CollectionAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit Date

My Account

LoginRegister

Statistics

View Usage Statistics
Duke University Libraries

Contact Us

411 Chapel Drive
Durham, NC 27708
(919) 660-5870
Perkins Library Service Desk

Digital Repositories at Duke

  • Report a problem with the repositories
  • About digital repositories at Duke
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Deaccession and DMCA Takedown Policy

TwitterFacebookYouTubeFlickrInstagramBlogs

Sign Up for Our Newsletter
  • Re-use & Attribution / Privacy
  • Harmful Language Statement
  • Support the Libraries
Duke University