The Aethalometer Calibration and Determination of Iron Concentration in Dust Aerosols
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2006
Department
Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
Abstract
This paper shows the use of the instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) technique to calibrate Aethalometer instruments' response to iron oxides present in Saharan dust aerosol. The five samples selected for this calibration were collected with a seven-wavelength Aethalometer (model AE31) at the summit of Pico mountain (2225 m ASL) in the Azores Islands. These samples correspond to measurements taken between the 31 October and 5 November, 2001. Analysis of these samples by the INAA technique gave a total mass of 14.84 ± 0.70 μg (Fe). Correlation of the analytical results with the optical measurements allowed the determination of the elemental iron calibration constant, KFe (0.234 ± 0.022 μm4 m2 g-1), which can be used in the determination of iron concentrations from multi-wavelength Aethalometer measurements. As an example of this, we used Aethalometer measurements during the 2001 event to calculate hourly average dust iron,〈 CFe 〉, concentrations, which range from 0.00 and 1.77 μg (Fe) m-3.
Publication Title
Journal of Aerosol Science
Recommended Citation
Fialho, P.,
Freitas, M.,
Barata, F.,
Vieira, B.,
Hansen, A.,
&
Honrath, R.
(2006).
The Aethalometer Calibration and Determination of Iron Concentration in Dust Aerosols.
Journal of Aerosol Science,
37(11), 1497-1506.
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaerosci.2006.03.002
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/6597
Publisher's Statement
© 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.