In-depth characterization of submicron particulate matter inter-annual variations at a street canyon site in northern Europe

• Main Authors: L. M. F. Barreira, A. Helin, M. Aurela, K. Teinilä, M. Friman, L. Kangas, J. V. Niemi, H. Portin, A. Kousa, L. Pirjola, T. Rönkkö, S. Saarikoski, H. Timonen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2021-04-01
• Series: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
• Online Access: https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/21/6297/2021/acp-21-6297-2021.pdf

<p>Atmospheric aerosols play an important role in air pollution. Aerosol particle chemical composition is highly variable depending on the season, hour of the day, day of the week, meteorology, and location of the measurement site. Long measurement periods and highly time-resolved data are required in order to achieve a statistically relevant amount of data for assessing those variations and evaluating pollution episodes. In this study, we present continuous atmospheric <span class="inline-formula">PM₁</span> (particulate matter <span class="inline-formula">&lt;</span> 1 <span class="inline-formula">µm</span>) concentration and composition measurements at an urban street canyon site located in Helsinki, Finland. The study was performed for 4.5 years (2015–2019) and involved highly time-resolved measurements by taking advantage of a suite of online state-of-the-art instruments such as an aerosol chemical speciation monitor (ACSM), a multi-angle absorption photometer (MAAP), a differential mobility particle sizer (DMPS), and an Aethalometer (AE). <span class="inline-formula">PM₁</span> consisted mostly of organics, with mean mass concentrations of 2.89 <span class="inline-formula">µg m⁻³</span> (53 % of <span class="inline-formula">PM₁</span>) followed by inorganic species (1.56 <span class="inline-formula">µg m⁻³</span>, 29 %) and equivalent black carbon (eBC, 0.97 <span class="inline-formula">µg m⁻³</span>, 18 %). A trend analysis revealed a decrease in BC from fossil fuel (<span class="inline-formula">BC_FF</span>), organics, and nitrate over the studied years. Clear seasonal and/or diurnal variations were found for the measured atmospheric <span class="inline-formula">PM₁</span> constituents. Particle number and mass size distributions over different seasons revealed the possible influence of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) during summer and the dominance of ultrafine traffic aerosols during winter. The seasonality of measured constituents also impacted the particle's coating and absorptive properties. The investigation of pollution episodes observed at the site showed that a large fraction of aerosol particle mass was comprised of inorganic species during long-range transport, while during local episodes eBC and organics prevailed together with elevated particle number concentration. Overall, the results increased knowledge of the variability of <span class="inline-formula">PM₁</span> concentration and composition in a Nordic traffic site and its implications on urban air quality. Considering the effects of PM mitigation policies in northern Europe in the last decades, the results obtained in this study may be considered illustrative of probable future air quality challenges in countries currently adopting similar environmental regulations.</p>