Abstract Emissions in East Asia have been increasing due to the rapid economic growth. In spring time, transport of gas and aerosol from the Asian continent to Japan prevails due to the seasonal monsoon. Since Fukuoka is located at the west part of Japan with a large population, urban type and long-range transported type of aerosols are expected to be observed. To monitor them, we have set up an Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer (Q-AMS or ACSM) and a TEOM at Fukuoka (33.5N,130.3E).
Aerosol chemical species were measured using Q-AMS in spring 2010 and 2012 and using ACSM in summer 2011. The main species were sulfate and organics, while nitrate and chloride were minor.
Organic data obtained from both Q-AMS and ACSM were analyzed by the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) method using the PMF evaluation tool developed by Ulbrich et al. The PMF analysis showed that three factors were the most plausible to explain the spring data. The mass spectra (MS) of the first component shows the highest signal at m/z=44 (COO fragment), considered to be well aged organics. MS of the second one shows the relatively high signals at m/z=55, 57 (C4H7, C4H9 fragments), considered to be fresh organics. MS of the third one shows the relatively higher signal at m/z=43 (CH2CHO fragments) with respect to m/z=44 signal. This is considered to contain the partly aged organics. The mass fraction of the third component to the total organic mass was about half, indicating that the middle range transport was dominant.
With the summer data, only one component was obtained. The mass spectra show that the m/z=44 signal is the highest. However, m/z=43 and m/z=55 are also clearly seen in the mass spectra. This suggests that aged and fresh organics are mixed during this observation period.