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Tian M, Li H, Wang G, Fu M, Qin X, Lu D, Liu C, Zhu Y, Luo X, Deng C, Abdullaev SF, Huang K. Seasonal source identification and formation processes of marine particulate water soluble organic nitrogen over an offshore island in the East China Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 863:160895. [PMID: 36539088 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Water soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) had great influences on the aerosol chemistry, hygroscopicity, marine primary productivity, as well as nitrogen biogeochemical cycles. Aerosol sampling was conducted over an offshore island in the East China Sea in four seasons of 2019, aiming to reveal the seasonal sources and secondary formation processes of marine WSON. The annual mean WSON concentration reached 1.05 ± 1.72 μg/m3 with a mean WSON/WSTN fraction of 27 %. In spring, WSON was associated with combustion emissions. The liquid-phase reaction of NH3/NH4+ with VOCs was a potential secondary formation process of WSON. In summer, WSON was mainly formed through the gaseous phase oxidation of marine biogenic precursors. In autumn, WSON showed miscellaneous sources from agricultural activities, biomass burning, and fossil fuel combustion. In addition to the contribution from primary urea, WSON could be also affected by the oxidation of biological proteinaceous matters. This explained the highest WSON concentrations and WSON/WSOC ratios in autumn. In winter, WSON was probably emitted from sea spray aerosols via the bubble-bursting processes. This study indicated that the sources of WSON over the coastal waters in the East China Sea were quite diverse, highlighting the need of more detailed characterization of marine WSON at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengke Tian
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Hao Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Guochen Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Mengxin Fu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiaofei Qin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Da Lu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chengfeng Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yucheng Zhu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xingzhang Luo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Congrui Deng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Sabur F Abdullaev
- Physical Technical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
| | - Kan Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming, No.20 Cuiniao Road, Chen Jiazhen, Shanghai 202162, China; IRDR ICoE on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
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Liu F, Zhang G, Lian X, Fu Y, Lin Q, Yang Y, Bi X, Wang X, Peng P, Sheng G. Influence of meteorological parameters and oxidizing capacity on characteristics of airborne particulate amines in an urban area of the Pearl River Delta, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113212. [PMID: 35367230 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Nine amine species in atmospheric particles during haze and low-pollution days with low and high relative humidity (RH) were analyzed in urban Guangzhou, China. The mean concentrations of total measured amines (Ʃamines) in fine particles were 208 ± 127, 63.7 ± 21.3, and 120 ± 20.1 ng m-3 during haze, low pollution-low RH (LP-LRH), and low pollution-high RH (LP-HRH) episodes, respectively. The dominant amine species were methylamine (MA), dimethylamine (DMA), diethylamine (DEA) and dibutylamine (DBA), which in total accounted for 82-91% of the Ʃamines during different pollution episodes. The contributions of Ʃamines-C to water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and Ʃamines-N to water-soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) were 1.52% and 2.49% during haze, 1.24% and 1.96% during LP-LRH, and 2.00 and 2.98% during LP-HRH days, respectively. The mass proportion of Ʃamines in fine particles was higher during LP-HRH periods (0.19%) than during haze and LP-LRH periods (0.16%). The mass proportion of DBA in Ʃamines increased from 7% during haze and LP-LRH episodes to 25% during LP-HRH episodes. Compared with other amines, DBA showed a stronger linear relationship with RH (r = 0.867, p < 0.01), which demonstrates its high sensitivity to high RH conditions. Meteorological parameters (including RH, the mixed layer depth, wind speed and temperature), the oxidizing capacity (ozone concentration), and gaseous pollutants (NOx and SO2) correlated with amines under different pollution conditions. Under high RH, acid-base reactions were the dominant pathway for the gas-to-particle distribution of amines in urban areas, while direct dissolution dominated in the background site. To our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to conduct in situ measurements of particulate amines during different pollution conditions in China, and further research is needed to in-depth understanding of the influence of amines on haze formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengxian Liu
- Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030024, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China.
| | - Guohua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, CAS, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China
| | - Xiufeng Lian
- Institute of Mass Spectrometer and Atmospheric Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China
| | - Yuzhen Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, CAS, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China
| | - Qinhao Lin
- Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Yuxiang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, CAS, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China
| | - Xinhui Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, CAS, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China.
| | - Xinming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, CAS, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China
| | - Ping'an Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, CAS, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China
| | - Guoying Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China
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Soni A, Decesari S, Gadhavi H, Paglione M, Orsini D, Shridhar V, Kumar U, Volpi F. Chemical composition and radiative forcing of atmospheric aerosols over the high-altitude Western Himalayas of India. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:1961-1974. [PMID: 34363166 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15609-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Aerosol behavior over the Himalayas plays an important role in the regional climate of South Asia. Previous studies at high-altitude observatories have provided evidence of the impact of long-range transport of pollutants from the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). However, little information exists for the valley areas in the high Himalayas where significant local anthropogenic emissions can act as additional sources of short-living climate forcers and pollutants. The valley areas host most economic activities based on agriculture, forestry, and pilgrimage during every summer season. We report here first measurements at a valley site at ~2600 m a.s.l. on the trek to the Gangotri glacier (Gaumukh), in the Western Himalayas, where local infrastructures for atmospheric measurements are absent. The study comprised short-term measurement of aerosols, chemical characterization, and estimation of aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) during the winter and summer periods (2015-2016). The particulate matter mass concentrations were observed to be higher than the permissible limit during the summer campaigns. We obtained clear evidence of the impact of local anthropogenic sources: particulate nitrate is associated with coarse aerosol particles, the black carbon (BC) mass fraction appears undiluted with respect to measurements performed in the lower Himalayas, and in winter, both BC and sulfate concentrations in the valley site are well above the background levels reported from literature studies for mountain peaks. Finally, high concentrations of trace metals such as copper point to anthropogenic activities, including combustion and agriculture. While most studies in the Himalayas have addressed pollution in the high Himalayas in terms of transport from IGP, our study provides clear evidence that local sources cannot be overlooked over the high-altitude Himalayas. The estimated direct clear-sky ARF was estimated to be in the range of -0.1 to +1.6 W m-2, with significant heating in the atmosphere over the high-altitude Himalayan study site. These results indicate the need to establish systematic aerosol monitoring activities in the high Himalayan valleys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Soni
- Environmental Pollution Assessment Laboratory, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun, 248001, India.
| | - Stefano Decesari
- Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (ISAC-CNR), Italian National Research Council, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Harish Gadhavi
- Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, 380 009, India
| | - Marco Paglione
- Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (ISAC-CNR), Italian National Research Council, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Vijay Shridhar
- Environmental Pollution Assessment Laboratory, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun, 248001, India.
| | - Ujjwal Kumar
- Environmental Pollution Assessment Laboratory, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun, 248001, India
| | - Francesca Volpi
- Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (ISAC-CNR), Italian National Research Council, 40129, Bologna, Italy
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Liu Q, Baumgartner J, Schauer JJ. Source Apportionment of Fine-Particle, Water-Soluble Organic Nitrogen and Its Association with the Inflammatory Potential of Lung Epithelial Cells. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:9845-9854. [PMID: 31348644 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b02523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Identifying the key chemical compounds and source contributions in ambient particles associated with the burden of cardiopulmonary disease is important to develop cost-effective air pollution mitigating strategies that maximize the protection of public health. To help address this need, we examined 109 daily ambient fine particulate matter samples (PM2.5) that were collected in Beijing in one year. The samples were analyzed for chemical composition including organic and elemental carbons, metals, ions, as well as organic molecular markers. In addition, the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by exposing lung epithelial cells (A549) to water extracts of PM2.5 samples. Single pollutant and constituent-PM2.5 joint linear models were used to estimate the associations. Higher PM2.5 mass and measured chemical components were found in cold seasons than in warm seasons due to the greater contributions of secondary inorganic sources, biomass burning, and coal combustion. Water-soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) had the strongest associations with levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to PM2.5 mass and other chemical species in both the one and constituent-PM2.5 joint linear models. Our study is the first to highlight that ambient WSON from diverse sources dominates the inflammatory potential of lung epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyang Liu
- Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment , Nanjing Forestry University , Nanjing , 210037 , China
- Beijing Center for Physical and Chemical Analysis , Beijing , 100089 , China
| | - Jill Baumgartner
- Institute for Health and Social Policy , McGill University , Montreal , Quebec H3A 0G4 , Canada
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health , McGill University , Montreal , Quebec H3A 1A3 , Canada
| | - James J Schauer
- Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , Wisconsin 53706 , United States
- Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , Wisconsin 53718 , United States
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5
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Dall'Osto M, Ovadnevaite J, Paglione M, Beddows DCS, Ceburnis D, Cree C, Cortés P, Zamanillo M, Nunes SO, Pérez GL, Ortega-Retuerta E, Emelianov M, Vaqué D, Marrasé C, Estrada M, Sala MM, Vidal M, Fitzsimons MF, Beale R, Airs R, Rinaldi M, Decesari S, Cristina Facchini M, Harrison RM, O'Dowd C, Simó R. Antarctic sea ice region as a source of biogenic organic nitrogen in aerosols. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6047. [PMID: 28729547 PMCID: PMC5519629 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06188-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate warming affects the development and distribution of sea ice, but at present the evidence of polar ecosystem feedbacks on climate through changes in the atmosphere is sparse. By means of synergistic atmospheric and oceanic measurements in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica, we present evidence that the microbiota of sea ice and sea ice-influenced ocean are a previously unknown significant source of atmospheric organic nitrogen, including low molecular weight alkyl-amines. Given the keystone role of nitrogen compounds in aerosol formation, growth and neutralization, our findings call for greater chemical and source diversity in the modelling efforts linking the marine ecosystem to aerosol-mediated climate effects in the Southern Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Dall'Osto
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Jurgita Ovadnevaite
- School of Physics and Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Marco Paglione
- Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, National Research Council, Bologna, 40129, Italy
| | - David C S Beddows
- National Centre for Atmospheric Science, The School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Birmigham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Darius Ceburnis
- School of Physics and Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Charlotte Cree
- Biogeochemistry Research Centre, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Pau Cortés
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marina Zamanillo
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sdena O Nunes
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Gonzalo L Pérez
- Instituto INIBIOMA, CRUB Comahue, CONICET, Quintral 1250, 8400S.C. de Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina
| | - Eva Ortega-Retuerta
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Mikhail Emelianov
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Dolors Vaqué
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Cèlia Marrasé
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marta Estrada
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - M Montserrat Sala
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Montserrat Vidal
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Mark F Fitzsimons
- Biogeochemistry Research Centre, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Rachael Beale
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK
| | - Ruth Airs
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK
| | - Matteo Rinaldi
- Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, National Research Council, Bologna, 40129, Italy
| | - Stefano Decesari
- Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, National Research Council, Bologna, 40129, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Facchini
- Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, National Research Council, Bologna, 40129, Italy
| | - Roy M Harrison
- National Centre for Atmospheric Science, The School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Birmigham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom.,Department of Environmental Sciences / Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80203, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Colin O'Dowd
- School of Physics and Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Rafel Simó
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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Niu H, Kang S, Shi X, He Y, Lu X, Shi X, Paudyal R, Du J, Wang S, Du J, Chen J. Water-soluble elements in snow and ice on Mt. Yulong. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 574:889-900. [PMID: 27665449 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.09.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Melting of high-elevation glaciers can be accelerated by the deposition of light-absorbing aerosols (e.g., organic carbon, mineral dust), resulting in significant reductions of the surface albedo on glaciers. Organic carbon deposited in glaciers is of great significance to global carbon cycles, snow photochemistry, and air-snow exchange processes. In this work, various snow and ice samples were collected at high elevation sites (4300-4850masl) from Mt. Yulong on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau in 2015. These samples were analyzed for water-soluble organic carbon (DOC), total nitrogen (TN), and water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIs) to elucidate the chemical species and compositions of the glaciers in the Mt. Yulong region. Generally, glacial meltwater had the lowest DOC content (0.39mgL-1), while fresh snow had the highest (2.03mgL-1) among various types of snow and ice samples. There were obvious spatial and temporal trends of DOC and WSIs in glaciers. The DOC and TN concentrations decreased in the order of fresh snow, snow meltwater, snowpit, and surface snow, resulting from the photolysis of DOC and snow's quick-melt effects. The surface snow had low DOC and TN depletion ratios in the melt season; specifically, the ratios were -0.79 and -0.19mgL-1d-1, respectively. In the winter season, the ratios of DOC and TN were remarkably higher, with values of -0.20mgL-1d-1 and -0.08mgL-1d-1, respectively. A reduction of the DOC and TN content in glaciers was due to snow's quick melt and sublimation. Deposition of these light-absorbing impurities (LAPs) in glaciers might accelerate snowmelt and even glacial retreat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hewen Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, 219 Ningliu Road, Nanjing 210044, China.
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Xiaofei Shi
- College of Earth Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yuanqing He
- State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xixi Lu
- Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, 1 Arts Link, Singapore 117570, Singapore
| | - Xiaoyi Shi
- College of Earth Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Rukumesh Paudyal
- State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jiankuo Du
- Qinling and Intones Geography Research Institute, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723001, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shijin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jun Du
- Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Disaster Reducing of Gansu Province, China; Key Open Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Disaster Reduction of China, China
| | - Jizu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
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