Chemical Fluxes in North-east Atlantic Air.

An alternative method for the estimation of chemical aerosol fluxes, based on a vertical concentration gradient measurement, has been developed and executed at the coastal research station in Mace Head, Ireland. Total gravimetric PM1.0 mass, sea salt and water insoluble organic carbon (WINSOC) concentration profiles showed a net production, while nssSO4 and water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) concentration profiles showed a net removal at the surface. It was concluded that WSOC was predominantly of secondary origin, while WINSOC was predominantly of primary origin. Potential influence of the surf zone emissions was limited to 5-20% and the measured fluxes were characteristic of the coastal zone of up to 5 km. Sea salt concentration and mass flux relationships with the wind speed were established and fitted with power function (C = a*U b). A comparison with the mass flux, derived from eddy correlation measurements yielded good agreement. Keywords Aerosol, North Atlantic, concentration gradient, flux, sulphate, sea salt, water soluble organic carbon, water insoluble organic carbon [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]