REAL-TIME MEASUREMENT OF AEROSOL BLACK CARBON DURING THE CARBONACEOUS SPECIES METHODS COMPARISON STUDY

During the Carbonaceous Species Methods Comparison Study, we used the aethalometer, an instrument developed at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory that measures the concentration of aerosol black carbon [BC] in real time. Measurements were taken from August 12 to 21, 1986, with a 1-minute time base and were grouped to show 1-hour and multihour concentrations. We found concentrations generally ranging from 1 to 10 μ [BC] m−3, usually increasing in the morning hours. We also observed short-duration (2–15 minute) peaks in the black carbon concentration that could be directly attributed to the activity of vehicles in a delivery area less than 50 m from the study site. We conclude that mobile sources were the major contributor to the short- and medium-term variability of aerosol black carbon measured at this site. © 1990 Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc.