Shang-Gyoo Shim

Carbonaceous species in fine particles at the background sites in Korea between 1994 and 1999

Abstract Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in fine particles (PM2.5) at two background sites, Kosan and Kangwha in Korea were measured during intensive field studies between 1994 and 1999. Fine particles were collected on pre-fired quartz filters in a low-volume sampler and analyzed using the selective thermal oxidation method with MnO2 catalyst. The OC and EC concentrations at Kosan located at western tip of Cheju Island in southern Korea are lower than those at Kangwha located at western coastal area in mid-Korean peninsula. Still, the OC concentrations at Kosan are generally higher than those at other background areas in Japan and USA. The EC concentrations at Kosan are lower than or comparable to those at other background areas. The total carbon (TC, sum of OC and EC) to EC ratio values at both sites were higher than those at other background areas in Japan and USA. At Kosan, the OC and EC concentrations when air parcels were from southern China were higher than those when air parcels were coming from northern China. However, at Kangwha, the differences were statistically not clear since most air parcels were from northern China. Except when air parcels were from the North Pacific during summer, the OC and EC concentrations are well correlated indicating that both OC and EC share the same emission/transport characteristics. From the gaseous hydrocarbon data and the OC and EC relationship, it was found that during summer local biogenic emissions of OC might be significant at Kosan.

Mercury in air in an area impacted by strong industrial activities

The concentrations of total gaseous mercury (TGM) and its relevant environmental parameters were measured at a highly industrialized area in the Ban Wall industrial complex (BWIC) in An San city, Korea from March to May 2005. The mean concentrations of Hg measured during the entire study period were computed to be 6.32+/-8.56 ng m(-3) (range of 2.32-181 ng m(-3); N=1,160). Due to the effects of strong man-made activities, the significantly high Hg concentration levels (e.g., at or above 10 ng m(-3)) comprised about 7.5% of all data with the mean of 21.8+/-26.3 ng m(-3) (N=87). By separating the data into daytime and nighttime periods, the Hg values exhibited a notable daytime enhancement possibly due to strong man-made activities during working hours. The results of the correlation analysis indicated the possible relationship between the Hg concentration and the temperature as well as several pollutant species (e.g., NO(2) and NO(x)). Evaluation of the Hg data in relation with the air mass transport pattern confirms that the Hg concentration levels in this industrial area are affected most eminently by local, rather than distant, pollution sources.

Influence of regional biomass burning on the highly elevated organic carbon concentrations observed at Gosan, South Korea during a strong Asian dust period

PM2.5 carbonaceous particles were measured at Gosan, South Korea during 29 March–11 April 2002 which includes a pollution period (30 March–01 April) when the highest concentrations of major anthropogenic species (nss-SO42−, NO3−, and NH4+) were observed and a strong Asian dust (AD) period (08–10 April) when the highest concentrations of mainly dust-originated trace elements (Al, Ca, Mg, and Fe) were seen. The concentrations of elemental carbon (EC) measured in the pollution period were higher than those measured in the strong AD period, whereas an inverse variation in the concentrations of organic carbon (OC) was observed. Based on the OC/EC ratios, the possible source that mainly contributed to the highly elevated OC concentrations measured in the strong AD period was biomass burning. The influence of the long-range transport of smoke plumes emitted from regional biomass burning sources was evaluated by using MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) satellite data for fire locations and the potential source contribution function analysis. The most potential source regions of biomass burning were the Primorsky and Amur regions in Far Eastern Russia and southeastern and southwestern Siberia, Russia. Further discussion on the source characteristics suggested that the high OC concentrations measured in the strong AD period were significantly affected by the smoldering phase of biomass burning. In addition to biomass burning, secondary OC (SOC) formed during atmospheric long-range transport should be also considered as an important source of OC concentration measured at Gosan. Although this study dealt with the episodic case of the concurrent increase of dust and biomass burning particles, understanding the characteristics of heterogeneous mixing aerosol is essential in assessing the radiative forcing of aerosol.

Physico-Chemical Characterization of Black Carbon Emitted from Coal-fired Power Plant, Charcoal Kiln and Diesel Vehicle

The physico-chemical characteristics and nanostructure of the aerosol samples from a coal-fired power plant, a charcoal kiln and diesel vehicles were investigated with focusing on black carbon (BC). Aerosols from the coal-fired power plant were mostly comprised of mineral ash spheres which are heterogeneously mixed. The main components of the aerosols from coal-fired power plant were calcium compounds, iron oxide, alumino-silicate without BC. The typical combustion-generated BC which shows the shape of bunch of grapes with 20~50 nm particles which were detected in aerosol particles from diesel vehicles. The nanostructure of each BC particle shows the shape of concentric circles which is comprised of closely-packed graphene layers. Aerosols from charcoal kiln were likely condensed organic carbon generated from the low-temperature combustion process.