Articles | Volume 2, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-235-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-235-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
22 Jul 2024
Research article |
| 22 Jul 2024
| 22 Jul 2024
Vertical concentrations gradients and transport of airborne microplastics in wind tunnel experiments
Eike Maximilian Esders
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Micrometeorology Group, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, Bayreuth, Germany
Christoph Georgi
Institute of Environmental Technology, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, Berlin, Germany
Wolfgang Babel
Micrometeorology Group, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, Bayreuth, Germany
Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research, Dr.-Hans-Frisch-Str.1-3, Bayreuth, Germany
Andreas Held
Institute of Environmental Technology, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, Berlin, Germany
Christoph Karl Thomas
Micrometeorology Group, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, Bayreuth, Germany
Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research, Dr.-Hans-Frisch-Str.1-3, Bayreuth, Germany
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Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 15835–15851, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15835-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15835-2023, 2023
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Do microplastics behave differently from mineral particles when they are exposed to wind? We observed plastic and mineral particles in a wind tunnel and measured at what wind speeds the particles start to move. The results indicate that microplastics start to move at smaller wind speeds as they weigh less and are less sticky. Hence, we think that microplastics also move more easily in the environment.
Claudio Crazzolara and Andreas Held
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 2183–2194, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2183-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2183-2024, 2024
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Our paper describes the development of a collection device that can be used to collect airborne dust particles classified according to their size. This collection device is optimized for a special analysis method based on X-ray fluorescence so that particles can be collected from the air and analyzed with high sensitivity. This enables the determination of the content of heavy metals in the airborne particle fraction, which are of health-relevant significance.
Julius Seidler, Markus N. Friedrich, Christoph K. Thomas, and Anke C. Nölscher
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Here, we study the transport of ultrafine particles (UFPs) from an airport to two new adjacent measuring sites for 1 year. The number of UFPs in the air and the diurnal variation are typical urban. Winds from the airport show increased number concentrations. Additionally, considering wind frequencies, we estimate that, from all UFPs measured at the two sites, 10 %–14 % originate from the airport and/or other UFP sources from between the airport and site.
Eike Maximilian Esders, Sebastian Sittl, Inka Krammel, Wolfgang Babel, Georg Papastavrou, and Christoph Karl Thomas
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 15835–15851, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15835-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15835-2023, 2023
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Wolfgang Fischer, Christoph K. Thomas, Nikita Zimov, and Mathias Göckede
Biogeosciences, 19, 1611–1633, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1611-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1611-2022, 2022
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Karl Lapo, Anita Freundorfer, Antonia Fritz, Johann Schneider, Johannes Olesch, Wolfgang Babel, and Christoph K. Thomas
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Marie-Louise Zeller, Jannis-Michael Huss, Lena Pfister, Karl E. Lapo, Daniela Littmann, Johann Schneider, Alexander Schulz, and Christoph K. Thomas
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 3439–3452, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-3439-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-3439-2021, 2021
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Kathrin Gatzsche, Wolfgang Babel, Eva Falge, Rex David Pyles, Kyaw Tha Paw U, Armin Raabe, and Thomas Foken
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Shang Sun, Alexander Moravek, Lisa von der Heyden, Andreas Held, Matthias Sörgel, and Jürgen Kesselmeier
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 599–617, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-599-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-599-2016, 2016
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M. Sörgel, I. Trebs, D. Wu, and A. Held
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 9237–9251, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-9237-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-9237-2015, 2015
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D. Plake, M. Sörgel, P. Stella, A. Held, and I. Trebs
Biogeosciences, 12, 945–959, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-945-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-945-2015, 2015
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Grasslands cover vast terrestrial areas and the main biomass is concentrated in the lowest part of the canopy. We found that measured transport times in the lowermost canopy layer are fastest during nighttime. During daytime, the reaction of NO with O3, as well as NO2 uptake by plants, was faster than transport. This suggests that grassland canopies of similar structure may exhibit a strong potential to retain soil emitted NO due to oxidation and subsequent uptake of NO2 by plants.
W. Babel, T. Biermann, H. Coners, E. Falge, E. Seeber, J. Ingrisch, P.-M. Schleuß, T. Gerken, J. Leonbacher, T. Leipold, S. Willinghöfer, K. Schützenmeister, O. Shibistova, L. Becker, S. Hafner, S. Spielvogel, X. Li, X. Xu, Y. Sun, L. Zhang, Y. Yang, Y. Ma, K. Wesche, H.-F. Graf, C. Leuschner, G. Guggenberger, Y. Kuzyakov, G. Miehe, and T. Foken
Biogeosciences, 11, 6633–6656, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-6633-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-6633-2014, 2014
S. G. Gonser, F. Klein, W. Birmili, J. Größ, M. Kulmala, H. E. Manninen, A. Wiedensohler, and A. Held
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 10547–10563, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-10547-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-10547-2014, 2014
M. Tjernström, C. Leck, C. E. Birch, J. W. Bottenheim, B. J. Brooks, I. M. Brooks, L. Bäcklin, R. Y.-W. Chang, G. de Leeuw, L. Di Liberto, S. de la Rosa, E. Granath, M. Graus, A. Hansel, J. Heintzenberg, A. Held, A. Hind, P. Johnston, J. Knulst, M. Martin, P. A. Matrai, T. Mauritsen, M. Müller, S. J. Norris, M. V. Orellana, D. A. Orsini, J. Paatero, P. O. G. Persson, Q. Gao, C. Rauschenberg, Z. Ristovski, J. Sedlar, M. D. Shupe, B. Sierau, A. Sirevaag, S. Sjogren, O. Stetzer, E. Swietlicki, M. Szczodrak, P. Vaattovaara, N. Wahlberg, M. Westberg, and C. R. Wheeler
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 2823–2869, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-2823-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-2823-2014, 2014
N. Niedermeier, A. Held, T. Müller, B. Heinold, K. Schepanski, I. Tegen, K. Kandler, M. Ebert, S. Weinbruch, K. Read, J. Lee, K. W. Fomba, K. Müller, H. Herrmann, and A. Wiedensohler
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 2245–2266, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-2245-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-2245-2014, 2014
K. A. Kamilli, L. Poulain, A. Held, A. Nowak, W. Birmili, and A. Wiedensohler
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 737–749, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-737-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-737-2014, 2014
S. G. Gonser and A. Held
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 6, 2339–2348, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-6-2339-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-6-2339-2013, 2013
M. Li, W. Babel, K. Tanaka, and T. Foken
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 6, 221–229, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-6-221-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-6-221-2013, 2013
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Aerosol formation is an important process for our global climate. While inorganic species have been shown to be important for aerosol formation, there remains a large gap in our knowledge about the exact involvement of organics. We present a new quantum chemical procedure for screening relevant organics that for the first time allows us to obtain direct molecular-level insight into the organics involved in aerosol formation.
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We analyze the mechanism whereby sunlight and iron catalyze the production of chlorine from chloride in sea spray aerosol. This process occurs naturally over the North Atlantic and is the single most important source of chlorine. We investigate the mechanism using quantum chemistry, laboratory experiments, and aqueous chemistry modelling. The process will change depending on competing ions, light distribution, acidity, and chloride concentration.
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Short summary
Our study explores how tiny plastic particles, known as microplastics (MPs), move through the air. We focus on their journey in a wind tunnel to mimic atmospheric transport. Depending on the air speed and the height of their release, they move downwards or upwards. These results suggest that MPs behave like mineral particles and that we can expect MPs to accumulate where natural dust also accumulates in the environment, offering insights for predicting the spread and impacts of MPs.
Our study explores how tiny plastic particles, known as microplastics (MPs), move through the...
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