Recent Investigations in Air Chemistry

Abstract

1. New results of chemical analyses of natural aerosol particles in Florida and in the Boston area are presented. 2. These data are compared with the results obtained earlier at various other locations. The continental and maritime components of NH₄, Na, Cl, SO₄, and NO₃ can be separated for two different size ranges, viz. large particles (radius 0.08 μ to 0.8 μ) and giant particles (radius 0.8 μ to 8 μ). It is found that the continental influence on aerosols extends far into the ocean. 3. The nitrate content of the particles presents an especially interesting problem, since it appears that the major part of NO₃ stems neither from a continental nor from a maritime source, but from a certain area along the coast. 4. A comparison is made of the total amounts of material found in the large and the giant particles of the various locations. Information gained from this comparison provides the basis for conclusions regarding the size distribution of aerosols. A pronounced difference between maritime and continental distributions becomes evident in this case. 5. The concentration of the corresponding gas traces of NH₃, SO₂, nitrogen oxides and chlorine components were measured in Florida and at other locations simultaneously with the chemical analysis of the aerosols. For most components the concentration of these gas traces is considerably higher than that for the corresponding substances in the aerosols. The importance of these findings for air chemistry is discussed. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1956.tb01205.x