Sulfur and crustal reference elements in nonurban aerosols from Squaw Mountain, Colorado

Background nonurban aerosol concentrations of sulfur are needed as a reference for comparison with atmospheres exposed to anthropogenic sulfur emissions. Sulfur, potassium, calcium, iron, and titanium were determined by the proton-induced X-ray emission method in aerosols from a remote Western U. S....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 1978-06, Vol.12 (6), p.716-721
Main Authors: Lawson, Douglas R, Winchester, John W
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Background nonurban aerosol concentrations of sulfur are needed as a reference for comparison with atmospheres exposed to anthropogenic sulfur emissions. Sulfur, potassium, calcium, iron, and titanium were determined by the proton-induced X-ray emission method in aerosols from a remote Western U. S. Mountaintop before and after snowfall. Calcium, iron, and potassium were highly correlated over time, as well as in their particle size distributions, forming a crustal reference group. Sulfur, primarily a submicron aerosol constituent, was poorly correlated with the crustal group. Regional snow cover and falling snow suppressed crustal element concentrations, while sulfur levels were suppressed only during precipitation, suggesting that sulfurized aersol does not depend on nearby sources as much as crustal elements depend on them. Sulfur also has a longer average air transport pathway compared with the crustal group.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es60142a003