Assessing the accuracy of low-cost optical particle sensors using a physics-based approach
-
Published:2020-11-26
Issue:11
Volume:13
Page:6343-6355
-
ISSN:1867-8548
-
Container-title:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
-
language:en
-
Short-container-title:Atmos. Meas. Tech.
Author:
Hagan David H., Kroll Jesse H.ORCID
Abstract
Abstract. Low-cost sensors for measuring particulate matter (PM) offer the ability to
understand human exposure to air pollution at spatiotemporal scales that
have previously been impractical. However, such low-cost PM sensors tend to
be poorly characterized, and their measurements of mass concentration can be
subject to considerable error. Recent studies have investigated how
individual factors can contribute to this error, but these studies are
largely based on empirical comparisons and generally do not examine the role
of multiple factors simultaneously. Here, we present a new physics-based
framework and open-source software package (opcsim) for evaluating the ability of
low-cost optical particle sensors (optical particle counters and
nephelometers) to accurately characterize the size distribution and/or mass
loading of aerosol particles. This framework, which uses Mie theory to
calculate the response of a given sensor to a given particle population, is
used to estimate the fractional error in mass loading for different sensor
types given variations in relative humidity, aerosol optical properties,
and the underlying particle size distribution. Results indicate that such
error, which can be substantial, is dependent on the sensor technology
(nephelometer vs. optical particle counter), the specific parameters of the
individual sensor, and differences between the aerosol used to calibrate the
sensor and the aerosol being measured. We conclude with a summary of likely
sources of error for different sensor types, environmental conditions, and
particle classes and offer general recommendations for the choice of calibrant
under different measurement scenarios.
Funder
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Subject
Atmospheric Science
Reference66 articles.
1. Abu-Rahmah, A., Arnott, W. P., and Moosmüller, H.: Integrating
nephelometer with a low truncation angle and an extended calibration scheme,
Meas. Sci. Technol., 17, 1723–1732, https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-0233/17/7/010,
2006. 2. Ahlquist, N. C. and Charlson, R. J.: A new instrument for evaluating the
visual quality of air, Japca J. Air Waste Ma., 17, 467–469, 1967. 3. Anderson, T. L., Covert, D. S., Marshall, S. F., Laucks, M. L., Charlson, R.
J., Waggoner, A. P., Ogren, J. A., Caldow, R., Holm, R. L., Quant, F. R.,
Sem, G. J., Wiedensohler, A., Ahlquist, N. A. and Bates, T. S.: Performance
Characteristics of a High-Sensitivity, Three-Wavelength, Total
Scatter/Backscatter Nephelometer, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 13,
967–986, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(1996)013<0967:PCOAHS>2.0.CO;2, 1996. 4. Antonini, J. M., Lewis, A. B., Roberts, J. R., and Whaley, D. A.: Pulmonary
effects of welding fumes: Review of worker and experimental animal studies,
Am. J. Ind. Med., 43, 350–360, https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.10194, 2003. 5. Apte, J. S., Brauer, M., Cohen, A. J., Ezzati, M., and Pope, C. A.: Ambient
PM2.5 Reduces Global and Regional Life Expectancy, Environ. Sci. Technol.
Lett., 5, 546–551, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00360, 2018.
Cited by
71 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献
|
|