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Seasonal variations of anhydrosugars in PM2.5 in the Pearl River Delta Region, China Cover

Seasonal variations of anhydrosugars in PM2.5 in the Pearl River Delta Region, China

Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology
Volume 66 (2014): Issue 1
By: ,  ,  ,  ,  ,   and    
Open Access
|Jan 2014
Figures & tables

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1

Map showing locations of the four sampling sites in the PRD region (GZ: Guangzhou; ZQ: Zhaoqing University in Zhaoqing; HT: Hok Tsui; and PU: Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong).

Table 1. Concentrations (including one standard deviation and range) of anhydrosugars (in ng m−3) and WSOC in PM2.5 (in µg m−3) at the four sampling sites in the PRD region

Sampling sitesAverage (range)GZZQPUHTOverall PRD regionLevoglucosan59.3±60.5
(0.7–293.9)208.1±162.7
(5.1–621.3)35.8±74.9
(b.d.–496.0)26.1±59.5
(0.7–376.4)82.4±123.2
(b.d.–621.3)Mannosan4.0±4.9
(b.d.–23.4)13.5±11.5
(b.d.–43.7)2.7±5.7
(b.d.–36.0)2.9±5.4
(b.d.–31.0)5.8±8.6
(b.d.–43.7)WSOC2.0±1.2
(0.4–5.4)3.1±2.1
(0.5–9.4)1.8±1.1
(0.4–4.9)1.3±1.1
(0.2–4.4)2.1±1.6
(0.2–9.4)

[i] b.d., below detection limit; WSOC, water-soluble organic compounds; PRD, Pearl River Delta; GZ, Guangzhou; ZQ, Zhaoqing; PU, Polytechnic University; HT, Hok Tsui.

Table 2. Average (and associated standard deviation) of ratios of analy s ed species at the four sampling sites in the PRD region

Sampling sitesAverage (standard deviation)GZZQPUHTOverall PRD regionLG/OC0.009 (0.014)0.028 (0.020)0.003 (0.004)0.004 (0.007)0.011 (0.016)Contribution of biomass burning to OC* (%)11.5 (17.1)32.6 (21.1)3.8 (5.4)4.9 (8.5)13.1 (17.9)LG carbon /WSOC (%)1.65 (2.06)3.12 (1.95)0.69 (0.96)0.59 (0.91)1.50 (1.85)MN carbon /WSOC (%)0.12 (0.18)0.22 (0.17)0.06 (0.08)0.09 (0.10)0.12 (0.15)

[i] *Here, the contributions of biomass burning to OC were calculated using the following equation: contribution of biomass burning emissions to OC = (LG/OC)measured/(LG/OC)reference, while ‘(LG/OC)reference’ refers to the emission factor of levoglucosan based on OC emissions derived from biomass burning chamber studies (Zhang et al., 2007).

[ii] WSOC, water-soluble organic compounds; PRD, Pearl River Delta; GZ, Guangzhou; ZQ, Zhaoqing; PU, Polytechnic University; HT, Hok Tsui; LG/OC, levoglucosan to organic carbon.

Table 3. Levoglucosan to OC (LG/OC) ratios, obtained from controlled (chamber/lab) biomass burning studies

LocationPM sizeBiomass typeCombustion facilityLG/OC (%)ReferencePRD, China2.5Rice, corn, wheat strawChamber8.3Zhang et al., 2007Bangladesh2.5Rice straw, cow dung, leavesStove4.3 Sheesley et al., 2003USA2.5Rice strawChamber7.9 Hays et al., 2005USA2.5Agricultural residuesFireplace3.7 Mazzoleni et al., 2007Taiwan2.5Rice strawChamber7.6 Sullivan, et al., 2008Thailand2.5Rice strawField16.8Kim Oanh et al., 2011USA2.5Wheat strawChamber7.9 Dhammapala et al., 2007Austria10LeavesChamber3.3Schmidl et al., 2008a

Table 4. Seasonal average tracer concentrations (in ng m−3) and contribution of biomass to OC (%) in the PRD region

SeasonsSpringSummerAutumnWinterLevoglucosan61.3±79.338.6±58.084.8±108.4166.4±184.7Mannosan4.9±6.12.4±4.04.3±5.312.6±12.9WSOC (in µg m−3)1.5±0.91.5±1.13.0±1.92.8±1.7LG/OC0.010±0.0120.006±0.0100.011±0.0180.019±0.022Contribution of biomass burning to OC (%)12.7±14.47.6±12.613.0±21.821.6±23.1

[i] WSOC, water-soluble organic compounds; PRD, Pearl River Delta; LG/OC, levoglucosan to organic carbon.

Table 5. Seasonal average LG/OC ratios in the PRD region

Sampling sitesSeasonsGZZQPUHTSpring0.0080.0250.0050.004Summer0.0050.0200.0010.001Autumn0.0180.0210.0020.002Winter0.0120.0440.0060.011

[i] PRD, Pearl River Delta; GZ, Guangzhou; ZQ, Zhaoqing; PU, Polytechnic University; HT, Hok Tsui; LG/OC, levoglucosan to organic carbon.

Fig. 2

Fire counts during the sampling periods in four seasons (the fire spot data were retrieved from NOAA Satellite and Information Service website).

Fig. 3

Three-day backward air mass trajectories at Hok Tsui in four seasons [back trajectory analyses were conducted using the NOAA HYSPLIT model (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory, NOAA/ARL)].

Fig. 4

Correlation between WSOC and levoglucosan concentrations at ZQ.

Table 6. Correlation coefficients between levoglucosan and WSOC or nss-K+ concentrations in the four seasons

SpeciesCorrelationsSpringSummerAutumnWinterLG-WSOCPearson correlation (r)0.700.640.740.73Sig. (2-tailed) (p)0.000 (p<0.01)0.000 (p<0.01)0.000 (p<0.01)0.000 (p<0.01)Number of samples50713553LG-nss-K+Pearson correlation (r)0.720.520.780.72Sig. (2-tailed) (p)0.000 (p<0.01)0.000 (p<0.01)0.000 (p<0.01)0.000 (p<0.01)Number of samples50713553
Fig. 5

Temporal variation (a) and correlation plot (b) of two biomass burning tracers (nss-K+ and levoglucosan) in ZQ during the measurement period.

Table 7. Comparison of levoglucosan concentrations measured in various Asian countries

City, country PM sizeConcentration (ng m−3) Method used Site type ReferenceBeijing, China1060–1960GC/FID and GC/MSUrbanZhang et al., 2008Chengdu, Sichuan, China2.579.6 (avg)HPAECRuralYang et al., 2012Maebashi, Japan2.1257.5 (avg)GC/MSRuralKumagai et al., 2010Sapporo, Japan2.516 (avg)GC/MSBackgroundAggarwal and Kawamura, 2009Incheon, Korea2.51.42–66.13GC×GC-TOFMSRuralChoi et al., 2012Bangi, Malaysia1.539 204–40 176ColorimeterAgricultural areaLatif et al., 20111.54953 (avg)ColorimeterSemi-urbanLatif et al., 2011Mumbai, India1069±46–462±146GC/MSCoastalAggarwal et al., 2013Singapore2.51.5–466.5GC/MSUrbanYang et al., 2013Chiang Mai Basin, Thailand10333–1176ICUrban/Sub-urbanTsai et al., 2010
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v66.22577 | Journal eISSN: 1600-0889
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Language: English
Page range: 22577 - 22577
Submitted on: Aug 12, 2013
Accepted on: Apr 30, 2014
Published on: Jan 1, 2014
Published by: Stockholm University Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Keywords:
fine aerosol,
biomass burning,
WSOC,
levoglucosan,
Pearl River Delta

© 2014 Kin Fai Ho, Guenter Engling, Steven Sai Hang Ho, Rujin Huang, Senchao Lai, Junji Cao, Shun Cheng Lee, published by Stockholm University Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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