Composition and sources of aerosol in a central African rain forest during the dry season

During the Experiment for Regional Sources and Sinks of Oxidants (EXPRESSO-96), size-fractionated aerosol samples were collected in November and December 1996 at a ground site in the tropical rain forest at the N'doki National Park (NNP) in the Republic of Congo. The samples were analyzed for up to 26 elements using particle-induced X-ray emission. Elements related to mineral dust and pyrogenic aerosol exhibited greater concentrations during the daytime, while aerosol produced by the rain forest exhibited higher concentrations at night. Samples were also collected at two levels on the tower, above and below the canopy, to characterize vegetation sources. Absolute principal component analysis (APCA) identified three major aerosol source types in each size fraction, which explained more than 90% of the data variance. The fine-size fraction contained mineral dust (Al, Si, Ca, Ti, and Fe), pyrogenic (black carbon, K, and Zn), and marine/anthropogenic sulfur components. The coarse-size fraction included a mineral dust (Al, Si, Ca, Ti, Mn, and Fe) and two primary biogenic components consisting of K, P, Zn, and S. Absolute principal component scores were calculated for the components of APCA, and temporal trends were compared to 7 day isopycnic backward trajectories. Consistent relationships between the temporal trends of the fine fraction aerosol components and meteorological patterns were observed. Trade wind air masses transported biomass burning and mineral dust aerosol to NNP during the first half of the experiment. The fine fraction sulfur component correlated well with the pyrogenic activity before the change in meteorological patterns halfway through the experiment. The fine and coarse sulfur concentrations nearly doubled in the latter part of the experiment as a monsoon circulation brought sulfur-enriched aerosol from the Atlantic Ocean. Various industrial activities on the coast of Cameroon and Gabon probably contributed to the high sulfur concentrations as well.