Elemental Composition of Near-Surface Aerosols in Moscow and Its Suburb: Common Features and Differences throughout a Year

Abstract

The paper studies the elemental composition of aerosols in the near-surface atmosphere of Moscow and its suburb (near Zvenigorod, Moscow region) in winter and summer. We analyze the mass concentration values of 33 elements of terrigenous and non-terrigenous origin of global and local propagation, as well as the distribution of elements by aerosol particle size. A number of qualitative and quantitative differences in aerosol composition in the city and its suburb have been revealed in contrast seasons. The rates of changes in elemental concentrations in urban and rural air depending on atmospheric pressure or relative humidity are empirically estimated. The concentration of aerosols and individual elements always increases with increasing atmospheric pressure. However, an increase in relative humidity in summer leads to a decrease in concentrations of almost all elements under study, whereas in winter both a decrease and an increase in the concentrations of various elements are possible.