Particulate carbon in the Paris region atmosphere

Abstract

Abstract Various aerosol samples were collected in the Paris region, during a 3‐year period. The Important loads of the carbon aerosol (C>10 μgCm‐3) point out the multiplicity and the intensity of the sources. A good correlation is found between the soot and the organic contents, which is consistent with the fact that these two components of the aerosol have common sources. The major part of the atmospheric particulate carbon is always in the organic mode. Particles produced during vegetation combustion episodes appear more depleted in soot. Analysis of size‐segragated aerosol samples shows that the major mass of both the total carbonaceous matter and the soot is held by submicron particles. This material is likely to undergo dispersion and transport over long distances in the atmosphere.