Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
151525 
Journal Article 
Evaluation of the potential source contribution function using the 2002 Quebec forest fire episode 
Begum, BA; Kim, E; Jeong, CH; Lee, DW; Hopke, PK 
2005 
1 
Atmospheric Environment
ISSN: 1352-2310
EISSN: 1873-2844 
39 
20 
3719-3724 
WOS:000230607500014 
Particle data consisting of PM2.5 (particulate matter < 2.5
mu m aerodynamic diameter), light scattering coefficient (b(scat)), organic carbon. (OC),
elemental carbon (EC), and sulfate were measured for 2-h intervals from 1 July to 3 August 2002
in Philadelphia using semicontinuous monitors. The potential. source contribution function (PSCF)
combines the particle data with air parcel back trajectories to identify potential source areas
and the preferred pathways that give rise to the-observed high particle concentrations in
Philadelphia. Five day back trajectories arriving 12 times a day at 500 m above ground level were
calculated using NOAA HYSPLIT with the vertical mixing model. PSCF analyses were performed based
on the average values as criterion values for the measured particle parameters. During this
period, there was a major forest fire in central Quebec that penetrated the eastern United States
to well south of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This event permits the testing of the ability of the
PSCF analysis to identify the known source location of this fire, which is observed clearly in
the maps for PM2.5, OC and EC. The other maps can also. be interpreted in terms of the likely
sources of the observed concentrations. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 
receptor models; potential source contribution function; PM2.5; long-range transport; forest fire; Biomass burning