Spatial and temporal assessment of organic and black carbon at four sites in the interior of South Africa

Authors

  • P Maritz Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
  • J.P Beukes Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
  • P.G van Zyl Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
  • E.H Conradie Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
  • C Liousse Laboratoire d’Aérologie, Université Paul Sabatier-CNRS, OMP, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
  • C Galy-Lacaux Laboratoire d’Aérologie, Université Paul Sabatier-CNRS, OMP, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
  • P Castéra Laboratoire d’Aérologie, Université Paul Sabatier-CNRS, OMP, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
  • A Ramandh Sasol Technology R&D, P.O Box 1183, Sasolburg, 1947, South Africa
  • G Mkhatshwa Sustainability & Innovation Department, Eskom Corporate Service Division, Rosherville, South Africa
  • A.D Venter Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
  • J.J Pienaar Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2410-972X/2015/v25n1a1

Keywords:

Black carbon (BC), Organic carbon (OC), Spatial, Tempora, DEBITS, IDAF

Abstract

Limited data currently exist for atmospheric organic carbon (OC) and black carbon (BC) in South Africa (SA). In this paper OC and BC measured in SA were explored in terms of spatial and temporal patterns, mass fractions of the total aerosol mass, as well as possible sources. PM10 and PM2.5 samples were collected at five sites in SA operated within the Deposition of Biogeochemical Important Trace Species-IGAC DEBITS in Africa (DEBITS-IDAF) network. OC were higher than BC concentrations at all sites in both size fractions, while most OC and BC occurred in the PM2.5 fraction. OC/BC ratios reflected the location of the different sites, as well as possible sources impacting these sites. The OC and BC mass fraction percentages of the total aerosol mass varied up to 24% and 12%, respectively. A relatively well defined seasonal pattern was observed, with higher OC and BC measured from May to October, which coincides with the dry season in the interior of SA. An inverse seasonal pattern was observed for the fractional mass contributions of OC and BC to the total aerosol mass, which indicates substantially higher aerosol load during this time of the year. The relationship between OC and BC concentrations with the distance that air mass back trajectories passed by biomass burning fires and large point sources proved that biomass burning fires contribute significantly to regional OC and BC during the burning season, while large point sources did not contribute that significantly to regional OC and BC. The results from a highly industrialised and populated site also indicated that household combustion for space heating contributed at least to local OC and BC concentrations.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Downloads

Published

2015-06-03

How to Cite

Maritz, P., Beukes, J., van Zyl, P., Conradie, E., Liousse, C., Galy-Lacaux, C., Castéra, P., Ramandh, A., Mkhatshwa, G., Venter, A., & Pienaar, J. (2015). Spatial and temporal assessment of organic and black carbon at four sites in the interior of South Africa. Clean Air Journal, 25(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.17159/2410-972X/2015/v25n1a1

Issue

Section

Research Article

Most read articles by the same author(s)