Assessment of Carbonaceous Aerosols at Mount Tai, North China: Secondary Formation and Regional Source Analysis

Aerosol concentrations at Mount Tai, North China, reveal significant secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, particularly during cloud/fog events, with OC and EC levels exceeding those recorded at other domestic or international sites. The study identified three primary emission sources—diesel vehicle exhaust, biomass burning, and a mix of gasoline vehicle emissions with coal combustion—contributing 26.4%, 19.0%, and 54.5% to carbonaceous aerosols, respectively. Regional sources in the northwest, southwest, and east coastal areas also significantly impacted PM2.5 loading. The research employed thermal-optical reflectance (TOR) analysis and source apportionment techniques like PSCF and PMF to characterize these patterns.

Zheng, N., Song, S., Jin, X., Jia, H., Wang, Y., Ji, Y., Guo, L., & Li, P. (2019). Assessment of Carbonaceous Aerosols at Mount Tai, North China: Secondary Formation and Regional Source Analysis. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 19(8), 1708–1720. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2019.06.0316