Characterization of carbonaceous aerosols at Mount Lu in South China: implication for secondary organic carbon formation and long-range transport

In order to understand the sources and potential formation processes of atmospheric carbonaceous aerosols in South China, fine particle samples were collected at a high-elevation mountain site—Mount Lu (29°35′ N, 115°59′ E, 1165 m A.S.L.) during August–September, 2011. Eight carbonaceous fractions from particles were resolved following the IMPROVE thermal/optical reflectance protocol. During the observation campaign, the daily concentrations of PM2.5 at Mount Lu ranged from 7.69 to 116.39 μg/m3, with an average of 58.76 μg/m3. The observed average organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) concentrations in PM2.5 were 3.78 and 1.28 μg/m3, respectively. Secondary organic carbon (SOC) concentration, estimated by EC-tracer method, was 2.07 μg/m3 on average, accounting for 45.0 % of the total OC. The enhancement of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation was observed during cloud/fog processing, and heterogeneous acid-catalyzed reactions may have contributed to SOA formation as well. Back trajectory analysis indicated that air masses were mainly sourced from southern China during observation period, and this air mass source was featured by highest values of OC and effective carbon ratio (ECR). Relation of carbonaceous species and principal component analysis indicated that multiple sources contributed to the carbonaceous aerosols at Mount Lu.