Water-soluble inorganic ions in urban aerosolsof the continental part of Balkans (Belgrade) during the summer – autumn (2008)

Abstract

Abstract Size-segregated aerosol samples were collected using six stages High Volume Cascade Impactor. Aerosol mass and water soluble ions concentrations were determined. The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model was used to study the origin of air masses arriving to Belgrade in the investigated period. The obtained results of aerosol mass and water-soluble ion concentrations have been divided into six sub-data sets based on air mass categories. The highest average mass concentration of the fine mode (Dp ≤ 0.49 μm) was found for air masses coming to Belgrade from the southeast and northwest directions, and of the coarse mode (3.0 < Dp ≤7.2 μm) for air masses arriving from the northwest direction. The highest concentrations of SO 4 2– were found in the fine particles transported to the investigated area by air masses from southeast direction. The analysis of contribution of marine aerosol components (Na + and Cl - ), the Correlation and Cluster Analysis indicated the influence of marine aerosol on urban aerosol of the central Balkans coming from the Western Mediterranean and northern direction. NH 4 + and SO 4 2- and K + dominated in the fine mode for all air mass categories. PCA demonstrated the dominant impact of secondary aerosol formation processes on urban aerosols.