Temporal dynamics, meteorological effects, secondary organic aerosol estimation, and source identification of size-segregated carbonaceous aerosols

During the period 2019–2020, size-segregated aerosol samples containing elemental and organic carbon (EC and OC) were investigated. These samples were collected weekly using an eight-stage cascade impactor from an urban site located at Aksaray University, Aksaray. The quantification of EC and OC was carried out through a thermal-optical transmission device. The results revealed consistent size distribution attributes of EC and OC between winter and summer. Although EC accounted for an insignificant percentage (4.4%) of particulate matter (PM) in the PM_9.0–10.0 fraction during winter, a more substantial portion of OC in the same fraction (13.4%) comprised EC. Seasonal variations were distinct for EC but not significant for OC. Strong correlations between OC and EC were observed in coarse particle fractions, indicating a common source, with weaker correlations in fine particles. The highest OC/EC ratio was in the PM_0.43–0.65 fraction, followed by PM_2.1–3.3. The ratio of OC to EC in fine PM exceeded the threshold of 15 consistently. The observation indicates that as particle size increases, there is a noticeable decline in the OC to EC ratios. Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) accounted for 60.8% (winter) and 89.8% (summer) of OC values, emphasizing the substantial impact of SOA on Aksaray's atmosphere. Both seasons exhibited a multimodal distribution of ambient OC. In winter, the EC distribution was dominated by fine particles, with a bimodal pattern (PM_1.1–2.1 and PM_0.43–0.65 peaks). Common pollutant sources, including traffic emissions, road dust, biogenic emissions, and coal combustion, were identified for both seasons in coarse and fine particle fractions. These findings underscore the importance of emission control strategies targeting fine PM in Aksaray.