Aerosol characters from the desert region of Northwest China and the Yellow Sea in spring and summer: observations at Minqin, Qingdao, and Qianliyan in 1995-1996

Aerosol samples were collected from Northwest China desert region (Minqin), coastal suburb (Qingdao) and interior of the Yellow Sea (Qianliyan) in spr ing and summer of 1995 and 1996. Samples were analysed for major components , carbon and sulphur. The results show that concentrations of aerosols chan ge considerably in time and space. The crustal materials carried by cold fr ont system increase notably the aerosol concentration (mass/unit vol.) over the Yellow Sea but reduce the percentage contribution of pollutants and se a-salt. The sea-salt and regional aerosols become dominant fractions in coa stal atmosphere in summer when the dust storms are expired in source region and the Southeast monsoon starts in the Pacific Ocean. (C) 2001 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.