Aerosol scattering coefficients and major chemical compositions of fine particles observed at a rural site in the central Pearl River Delta, South China

During November-December 2010 aerosol scattering coefficients were monitored using a single-waved (525 nm) Nephelometer at a regional monitoring station in the central Pearl River Delta region and 24-hr fine particle (PM2.5) samples were also collected during the period using quartz filters for the analysis of major chemical components including organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), sulfate, nitrate and ammonium. In average, these five components accounted for about 85% of PM2.5 mass and contributed 42% (OC), 19% (SO42−), 12% (NO3−), 8.4% (NH4+) and 3.7% (EC), to PM2.5 mass. A relatively higher mass scattering efficiency of 5.3 m2/g was obtained for fine particles based on the linear regression between scattering coefficients and PM2.5 mass concentrations. Chemical extinction budget based on IMPROVE approach revealed that ammonium sulfate, particulate organic matter, ammonium nitrate and EC in average contributed about 32%, 28%, 20% and 6% to the light extinction coefficients, respectively.