Grantee Research Project Results
Response of inorganic PM to precursor concentrations.
Citation:
Ansari AS, Pandis SN. Response of inorganic PM to precursor concentrations. Environmental Science and Technology 1998;32(18):2706-2714.
Abstract:
An inorganic aerosol equilibrium model is used to investigate the response of inorganic particulate matter (PM) concentrations with respect to the precursor concentrations of sulfuric acid, ammonia, and nitric acid over a range of temperatures and relative humidities. Diagrams showing regions of PM response to precursor concentrations are generated, thus allowing the qualification of assumptions concerning the response of PM to sulfate and overall sensitivity to ammonia and nitric acid availability. The PM concentration level responds nonlinearly to sulfate and shows overall sensitivity to ammonia and nitric acid availability for specific atmospheric conditions and precursor concentrations. The generated diagrams are applied as a means of approximating the PM response to precursor concentrations for two urban polluted areas. In both cases, reductions in ammonia emissions have the most significant impact on the total PM level. However, such a reduction will result in significant increases in atmospheric acidity.The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.