The effects of Asian Dust on particulate matter fractionation in Seoul, Korea during spring 2001

The concentrations of three different fractions of particulate matter (PM) including PM2.5, PM10, and TSP were determined concurrently during March–May 2001. Measurements of three PM fractions were made at hourly intervals from four different observatory sites located within the city boundary of Seoul. On the basis of this study, we attempted to describe relationships between the occurrences of the Asian Dust (AD) event and its influences on the PM distribution characteristics. The results of our study demonstrated distinct differences between concentrations of PM fractions at AD and non-AD (NAD) periods. The increase of PM observed during the AD episode appeared to be dominated by the coarse, rather than fine, fraction of PM. In addition, it was found that TSP/PM10 ratios were almost constant, while the coarse/fine or TSP/PM2.5 ratios changed noticeably between AD and NAD periods. In most cases, differences in environmental conditions between AD and NAD periods were prominent and proven to be statistically significant. Moreover, the regression relationships between PM and N-oxides indicate that the source processes governing PM levels between the AD and NAD period can be different. The overall results of our analysis were hence helpful enough to distinguish competing processes in AD and NAD periods, while suggesting indirectly the possible control of different source processes on PM fractionation.