Life in the Big City: Evolution of Particle Concentration, Size Distribution, and Composition on a "Typical" Summer Day in Queens, New York City

JAMES J. SCHWAB (1), Min-Suk Bae (1), Olga Hogrefe (1), G. Garland Lala (1), Kenneth L. Demerjian (1), Qi Zhang (2), Yele Sun (2), Wei-Nai Chan (3), Yu-Chi Li (3), Hui-Ming Hung (4), Brian P. Frank (5), H. D. Felton (5), Oliver Rattigan (5)

(1) ASRC, University at Albany, SUNY, (2) University of California, Davis, (3) RCEC, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, (4) National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, (5) New York State DEC, Albany, NY

     Abstract Number: 331
     Last modified: May 7, 2010

Abstract
Aerosols in large mega-city environments are influenced by numerous sources and processes. They are frequently highly variable in space and time, as a number of near-roadway studies have shown (Zhu et al., 2002; Hu et al., 2009). Regional sources can be quite important, especially when the region experiences a strong cold front passage or a stagnant high pressure system. However, the mega-city urban environment is most often dominated by local pollution sources, moderated by the meteorology that dictates the horizontal and vertical transport of primary particles and aerosol precursors. We performed an intensive field study at Queens College, New York City during the July/August time period of 2009; our third such campaign at that site. Our measurements included particle size distributions with overlapping SMPS systems and an FMPS; submicron non-refractory particle composition and size with an HR-ToF-AMS; optical black carbon with a DMT PASS-1; aerosol carbon EC/OC with a Sunset Labs carbon aerosol analyzer; and numerous other aerosol, gaseous, and meteorological parameters. In this talk we will present observations showing the evolution of particle concentration, size distribution, and composition on a “typical” summer day in Queens, New York City. We will highlight the roles meteorological conditions, local sources, and photochemical processing play in producing the observed behavior. We will also contrast our typical day with the conditions leading to the much rarer new particle formation and growth events also observed at the site.

Hu, S., et al., Atmospheric Environment 43, 2541-2549 (2009)
Zhu, Y., et al., J. Air & Waste Manage. Assoc. 52, 1032-1043 (2002)