Diurnal changes of PM10-emission from arable soils in NE-Germany

• Glacial and fluvial sands showed lowest fine dust emission potential between 89 and 415 μg PM10 g−1 soil.
• Loess soils showed highest fine dust emission potential between 369 and 1215 μg PM10 g−1 soil.
• During the night, the moisture of all samples increased slightly by dew uptake.
• Fine dust emissions of soil samples were reduced up to 51% directly after sunrise.
• Highest fine dust emissions were measured between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Repeated loss of fine soil particles by dust emission from arable fields caused by tillage operations, decline soil fertility and reduce air quality. The objective of this study was to quantify the diurnal dynamic of topsoil moisture and the connected PM10-emission of 15 different soils from arable fields around Berlin. As typical for the young moraine landscape in NE Germany, soils from glacial (sand and loam dominated), aeolian (silt loam), and fluvial (organic) sediments were selected. Soil samples were placed outside under hot summer and clear sky conditions for 24 h to reproduce the natural dynamic of soil surface moisture, including dew uptake during the night and evaporation during the day. Dynamic of PM10 emissions of all soils were then measured nine times per day in a stationary wind tunnel.Glacial and fluvial sands showed lowest fine dust emission potential (PM10pot) between 89 and 415 μg PM10 g−1 soil, while PM10pot of loess soils were higher (369–1215 μg PM10 g−1 soil). During the night, the moisture of all samples increased slightly by dew uptake, and fine dust emissions of soil samples were reduced up to 51% directly after sunrise. Highest average reductions in PM10 emissions were found for glacial and fluvial loams. Some hours after sunrise, all soil samples heated up and quickly dried again. Under minimal moisture conditions, highest fine dust emissions were measured between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.