Spatio-temporal variability and principal components of the particle number size distribution in an urban atmosphere

Abstract

Abstract. Due to the presence of diffusive anthropogenic sources in urban areas, the spatio-temporal variability of fine (diameter <1 μm) and ultrafine (<0.1 μm) aerosol particles has been a challenging issue in particle exposure assessment as well as atmospheric research in general. We examined number size distributions of atmospheric aerosol particles (size range 3–800 nm) that were measured simultaneously at a maximum of eight observation sites in and around a city in Central Europe (Leipzig, Germany). Two main experiments were conducted with different time span and number of observation sites (2 years at 3 sites; 1 month at 8 sites). A general observation was that the particle number size distribution varied in time and space in a complex fashion as a result of interaction between local and far-range sources, and the meteorological conditions. To identify statistically independent factors in the urban aerosol, different runs of principal component analysis were conducted encompassing aerosol, gas phase, and meteorological parameters from the multiple sites. Several of the resulting principal components, outstanding with respect to their temporal persistence and spatial coverage, could be associated with aerosol particle modes: a first accumulation mode ("droplet mode", 300–800 nm), considered to be the result of liquid phase processes and far-range transport; a second accumulation mode (centered around diameters 90–250 nm), considered to result from primary emissions as well as aging through condensation and coagulation; an Aitken mode (30–200 nm) linked to urban traffic emissions in addition to an urban and a rural Aitken mode; a nucleation mode (5–20 nm) linked to urban traffic emissions; nucleation modes (3–20 nm) linked to photochemically induced particle formation; an aged nucleation mode (10–50 nm). A number of additional components were identified to represent only local sources at a single site each, or infrequent phenomena. In summary, the analysis of size distributions of high time and size resolution yielded a surprising wealth of statistical aerosol components occurring in the urban atmosphere over one single city. Meanwhile, satisfactory physical explanations could be found for the components with the greatest temporal persistence and spatial coverage. Therefore a paradigm on the behaviour of sub-μm urban aerosol particles is proposed, with recommendations how to efficiently monitor individual sub-fractions across an entire city.