An autonomous aerosol sampler/elemental analyzer designed for ocean buoys and remote land sites

An autonomous aerosol sampler/elemental analyzer, that employs energy dispe rsive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to determine the elemental (Fe, Si, S , Ca and K) concentrations of aerosols in near real time, has been designed , built and successfully tested on a roof. The ultimate technical goal is t o deploy a buoy-mounted aerosol sampler/analyzer in order to make the long- term measurements necessary to quantify the deposition of mineral dust to t he oceans. A major scientific goal is to address the question of enhanced b iological production due to the release of dissolved iron from the depositi on of mineral dust. Design and operating features are discussed and illustr ated. This instrument has the sensitivity to measure the concentrations of mineral dust and Fe over the oceans with a time resolution of a few days du ring periods of moderate to high dust deposition. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.