Radiocarbon Measurement of the Biogenic Contribution to Summertime PM-2.5 Ambient Aersol in Nashville TN.

Published

October 16, 2008

Author(s)

George A. Klouda, C. W. Lewis, W D. Ellenson

Abstract

Radiocarbon measurements performed on PM-2.5 samples collected near Nashville TN from June 21 to July 13, 1999, showed high levels of modern carbon, ranging from 56 to 80% of the total carbon in the samples. The results were robust under changes in sampling conditions (face velocity and with/without organic denuders) and sample treatment (with/without solvent extraction). The radiocarbon results and concurrent measurement of organic and elemental carbon concentrations indicate that the dominant carbon component of the samples was secondary organic aerosol from biogenic gaseous precursor emissions. This conclusion is consistent with some (but not all) recent air quality simulation results from application of the CMAQ model to the Nashville region. The Chapman-Richards model of tree growth was used to better define the quantitative relationship between measurements of 'percent modern carbon' and inferred 'percent biogenic carbon.'*Corresponding author phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: lewis.charlesw [at] epa.gov (lewis[dot]charlesw[at]epa[dot]gov)

Citation

Environmental Science & Technology

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

aersol, biogenic contribution, elemental carbon, organic carbon, radiocarbon

Citation

Klouda, G. , Lewis, C. and Ellenson, W. (2008), Radiocarbon Measurement of the Biogenic Contribution to Summertime PM-2.5 Ambient Aersol in Nashville TN., Environmental Science & Technology (Accessed April 2, 2025)