US EPA

1921243 

Journal Article 

Effectiveness of sulfur and boron isotopes in aerosols as tracers of emissions from coal burning in Asian continent 

Sakata, M; Ishikawa, T; Mitsunobu, S 

2013 

1 

Atmospheric Environment
ISSN: 1352-2310
EISSN: 1873-2844 

Elsevier BV 

67 (Mar 2013) 

296-303 

10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.11.025 

WOS:000315173300032 

The atmospheric concentrations and isotopic compositions of sulfur and boron were measured for aerosol samples (water soluble fraction) collected from April 2004 to March 2006 at two sites on the Japan Sea coast. SO42- originating from sea salts in the aerosols was negligible (only 1-2% of the total SO42-). The atmospheric concentrations of nonsea-salt SO42- (Snss) and total B (BT) were scattered widely, but the concentration ratio BT/Snss was relatively high during winter and relatively low during summer. Moreover, aerosols during winter were characterized by a high delta 34S ( delta 34Snss) of nonsea-salt SO42- and a low delta 11B ( delta 11BT) of total B, whereas aerosols during summer were characterized by a low delta 34Snss and a high delta 11BT. A negative correlation (r2 = 0.34, p 30 degree N)", whereas the second end-member is the air mass from "Japan and the Pacific Ocean". It is likely that SO42- and B in the air mass from northern China are strongly affected by coal burning, which satisfactorily reflects the characteristics of delta 34S and delta 11B (i.e., high delta 34S and low delta 11B) of coals formed in this region. Thus, both sulfur and boron isotopes in aerosols are effective as tracers of emissions from coal burning in northern China mainly during winter when the air mass from this region is dominant. On the other hand, the results of source identification suggested that the major sources of SO4> and B in the air mass from Japan and the Pacific Ocean are oil combustion in Japan and ocean sea salts, respectively. 

INW, Japan; INW, Japan Sea; China, People's Rep.; Aerosols; Air trajectories; Sulfur in aerosols; Tracers; Burning; Sulfur in atmosphere; Ocean-atmosphere system; Chemical composition; Correlations; Coal; Oceans; Boron; Boron isotopes; Sulfur; Sulphur; Air masses; Marine; Sulphates; Salts; Winter