Morphology and chemical composition of mineral particles in a special dust storm with high relative humidity in North China

Abstract

A special dust storm characterized by high PM₁₀ mass concentrations (921.9 ± 632.3 μg m⁻³) and high relative humidity (RH; 60.1 % ± 11.1 %) was observed on March 22–24, 2023 at a coastal city of North China. Aerosol particles of PM₁₀ were analyzed by a scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive X-ray and an ion chromatograph. The results showed that individual mineral particles were dominated by clay minerals, followed by quartz, feldspar, and carbonate. Bulk water-soluble inorganic ions analysis showed that SO₄^2- mass concentrations varied from 3.7 μg m⁻³ to 23.3 μg m⁻³ with an average value of 12.4 μg m⁻³. However, their mass ratios to PM₁₀ were relatively stable, being 1.15–2.01 % with an average value of 1.49 % ± 0.25 %, similar to the value near the dust sources (Tengger Desert). Although S-containing individual mineral dust varied from 5.2 % to 70.7 %, the average weight ratio of S on individual mineral dust was 2.1 %, much lower than that of non-dust periods (11.0 %). The results suggested limited sulfate formation on mineral dust surfaces even under high RH. In contrast, NO₃^-, which was very limited in dust sources, varied from 0.21 % to 4.11 % of the total PM₁₀ with an average value of 1.61 % ± 1.07 %. The research highlighted that nitrate formation has exceeded sulfate formation during severe dust storm episodes, which might because the atmospheric compositions in China have changed significantly with a high mass ratio of NO₂/SO₂ after the implementation of the strict emission control measures.