Aerosol single scattering albedo affected by chemical composition: An investigation using CRDS combined with MARGA

This work describes a field measurement of the aerosol optical properties and water-soluble inorganic (WSI) ion concentrations in aerosols at 1 h resolution from 2 April to 5 May 2010 in urban Shanghai. The average scattering coefficient at 532 nm (αs,532) is 102 ± 75 Mm− 1, much lower than values of Beijng and Guangzhou although four pollution events occurred during this field campaign. The single scattering albedo (ω) is 0.70 at 532 nm, which is considerably low, indicating higher relative abundance of light absorbing soot in Shanghai. The similar patterns of diurnal cycles of αs,532 and NH4+ concentration suggested that formation of secondary inorganic aerosol is one of dominant elements to decide diurnal cycles of optical properties of aerosol in Shanghai. Both αs,532 and absorption coefficient at 532 nm (αa,532) have linear relationship with mass concentration of SO42 −, NO3−, Cl− and NH4+. The concentration of NH4+ presents best linear relationship with αs,532. The mass scattering cross section is 15.7 m2 g− 1 for SO42 −. There is obvious dependence between the aerosol optical properties and the wind directions. The aerosol loading from west is much higher than those from Northeast (NE) and Southeast (SE) due to pollution parcels from Zhejiang and Jiangsu province. The decreasing rate of ω following the increase of αa,532 is highest during NE wind period, followed by that during SE and then West, suggesting a higher mass fraction of soot in aerosol during NE wind.

► The average ω was 0.70 in Shanghai, which suggested that mass fraction of soot in Shanghai is higher than those of Beijng and Guangzhou.
► Both scattering and absorption coefficient at 532 nm (αs,532) have linear relationship with mass concentration of SO42 −, NO3−, Cl− and NH4+.
► The mass scattering cross section for SO42 −, NO3− is 15.7 and 14.1 m2 g− 1 for SO42 − and NO3− respectively.