Measurement of atmospheric black carbon in the Vaal Triangle and Highveld Priority Areas

Authors

  • G.T Feig South African Weather Service 442 Rigel Ave South Erasmusrand Pretoria South Africa
  • B Vertue South African Weather Service 442 Rigel Ave South Erasmusrand Pretoria South Africa
  • S Naidoo South African Weather Service 442 Rigel Ave South Erasmusrand Pretoria South Africa
  • N Ncgukana South African Weather Service 442 Rigel Ave South Erasmusrand Pretoria South Africa
  • D Mabaso South African Weather Service 442 Rigel Ave South Erasmusrand Pretoria South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2410-972X/2015/v25n1a4

Keywords:

Vaal Triangle Priority Area, Highveld priority area, black carbon

Abstract

Atmospheric black carbon is an important atmospheric pollutant; it has impacts on human health and a strong climate impact. Black carbon particles are functionally defined by their optical properties (viz. characteristics in light absorption). As a result, black carbon particles are derived from a wide range of sources, but are largely the result of incomplete combustion processes. In order to quantify the atmospheric load of black carbon particles, multi angle absorption photometer (MAAP) instruments have been installed in 8 of the ambient air quality monitoring stations in the Vaal Triangle and Highveld Priority areas. Three of the instruments have been in operation since 2012 and the other 5 were installed in August 2013. This paper presents an analysis of the initial black carbon monitoring data. The impacts of seasonality and meteorological conditions as well as the relationship of the black carbon concentration to PM10
and PM2.5 concentrations are discussed.

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Published

2015-06-03

Issue

Vol. 25 No. 1 (2015): Clean Air Journal

Section

Research Article

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Creative Commons License
All articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License; copyright is retained by the authors. Readers are welcome to reproduce, share and adapt the content without permission provided the source is attributed.

How to Cite

Measurement of atmospheric black carbon in the Vaal Triangle and Highveld Priority Areas. (2015). Clean Air Journal, 25(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.17159/2410-972X/2015/v25n1a4