Asian Dust effects on Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) compositions at Gosan in Jeju Island, Korea

The compositions of TSP between AD and NAD storm periods were compared to study their long-term variations and chemical characteristics. TSP samples were collected at Gosan site in Jeju Island of Korea from February to May of 1992–2004. The major ionic and elemental species of TSP aerosols were analyzed. During AD periods, the concentrations of crust components (nss-Ca2+, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr, Ti) increased remarkably, and the concentrations of anthropogenic components (nss-SO42−, NO3−, S, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cd), with the exception of NH4+, increased weakly. The concentration ratios of all major components between AD and NAD periods showed ranges from 1.2 to 8.5, except for NH4+. The slope of the linear regression indicated that the contribution of CO32− may have comprised up to 17% of the total anions. Our results suggested that the AD storm greatly influenced TSP compositions. Linear regression analyses indicated that NH4+ was not correlated with NO3−, but highly correlated with nss-SO42− during both periods. The nss-SO42− was also correlated with NH4+, K+, nss-Mg2+, and nss-Ca2+ during both periods. Interestingly, NO3− was associated with nss-Ca2+ and nss-Mg2+ during AD periods. Of the metal elements, Fe, Ca, Mg, Ti, Mn, Ba, Sr, V, and Co were highly correlated with Al during both periods, signifying that these metals were mostly originated from soils.