Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics www.atmos-chem-phys.net 1680-7316 1680-7324 8 18 2008 10.5194/acp-8-5635-2008 http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/5635/2008/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/5635/2008/acp-8-5635-2008.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/5635/2008/acp-8-5635-2008.pdf 5635 5647 2008-09-26 Size distributions, sources and source areas of water-soluble organic carbon in urban background air H. Timonen S. Saarikoski sanna.saarikoski@fmi.fi O. Tolonen-Kivimäki M. Aurela K. Saarnio T. Petäjä P. P. Aalto M. Kulmala T. Pakkanen R. Hillamo Finnish Meteorological Institute, Air Quality, Erik Palménin Aukio 1, P.O. Box 503, 00101 Helsinki, Finland University of Helsinki, Department of Physical Sciences, P.O. Box 64, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland Earth and Sun Systems Laboratory, Atmospheric Chemistry Division National Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80305-3000, USA This paper represents the results of one year long measurement period of the size distributions of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), inorganic ions and gravimetric mass of particulate matter. Measurements were done at an urban background station (SMEAR III) by using a micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI). The site is located in northern European boreal region in Helsinki, Finland. The WSOC size distribution measurements were completed with the chemical analysis of inorganic ions, organic carbon (OC) and monosaccharide anhydrides from the filter samples (particle aerodynamic diameter smaller than 1 μm, PM1). Gravimetric mass concentration varied during the MOUDI samplings between 3.4 and 55.0 μg m−3 and the WSOC concentrations were between 0.3 and 7.4 μg m−3. On average, water-soluble particulate organic matter (WSPOM, WSOC multiplied by 1.6 to convert the analyzed carbon mass to organic matter mass) comprised 25±7.7% and 7.5±3.4% of aerosol PM1 mass and the PM1–10 mass, respectively. Inorganic ions contributed 33±12% and 28±19% of the analyzed PM1 and PM1–10 aerosol mass. Five different aerosol categories corresponding to different sources or source areas were identified (long-range transport aerosols, biomass burning aerosols from wild land fires and from small-scale wood combustion, aerosols originating from marine areas and from the clean arctic areas). Categories were identified mainly using levoglucosan concentration level for wood combustion and air mass backward trajectories for other groups. Clear differences in WSOC concentrations and size distributions originating from different sources or source areas were observed, although there are also many other factors which might affect the results. 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