Main particulate matter components in Saxony (Germany) - Trends and sampling aspects

Aerosol filter samples have been collected nearby the industrialised basin of Leipzig in Saxony (Germany) at the research station Melpitz of the Insti tut fur Tropospharenforschung e.V. (IfT). Time series (1992-1998) and a thr ee year comparison (1995-1997) of two different aerosol filter sampling sys tems, the Sierra-Andersen-PM 10 high volume sampler (daily sample, PM 10 in let) and the Rupprecht and Patashnik Co. Inc. Model Partisol 2000 (weekly s ample, PM 10 and PM 2.5 inlet) are presented and discussed. The comparison of the different sampling systems and strategies yields small differences b etween the daily and weekly samples for mass and different ions, which may be influenced by sampling duration and flow rates, A general trend of chang e in aerosol composition was observed: Soot and Sulphate concentrations dec reased whereas Nitrate and Ammonium concentrations increased. During summer s the mass of coarse particles is higher than in other seasons. One reason could be found in the occurence of longer periods of dry ground surfaces en abling reemission of crustal and biological material. The time series have been integrated in a longer historical aerosol mass tr end for Saxony and do show a good agreement. Since 1990 a significant downw ard trend in gravimetric mass concentration was found.