Patterns in the composition of ground level aerosols at the T3 site during GOAmazon as determined from Aerosol Chemical Species Monitor data.

Description

The Aerosol Chemical Species Monitor (ACSM) has been operated at the GOAmazon T3 site near Manacapuru, Amazonia, Brazil. The ACSM makes measurements of particulate sulfate, nitrate, chloride, ammonium, and organic species with half hour time resolution. The T3 site is downwind of the city of Manaus. This is an area where the air quality is the result of natural emissions in air transported across the undeveloped rain forest interspersed with episodes of anthropogenic emissions in air that has passed over the highly populated region of Manaus. Measurements began in February 2014 and have continued through the present covering both GO Amazon intensive operation periods (IOPs) and the regional wet and dry seasons. Data from the entire measurement period are presented and differences in the aerosol composition between the wet and dry season and between the two IOPs are highlighted. Data from the natural emissions are contrasted with the air masses containing anthropogenic emissions. Data from several apparent biomass burning episodes are analyzed based on the evidence of specific peaks in the mass spectra.