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| Guadalupe
Mountains
National Park |
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| Chemical components
responsible for haze |
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The average PM2.5 mass
concentration during the years 1997-2002 is 5.6 µg/m3, and the average total
light extinction coefficient (Bext) is 35.7 Mm-1 (Visual Range ~ 109 Km; Deciview ~ 12.7).
On average, sulfate is the largest contributor to haze, with a contribution
of ~30% (figure 2). |
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| Figure 2. Average
contributions of major aerosol chemical components to light extinction
(Based on data available in 1997-2002) |
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Figure 3 suggests that the highest occurrence of the 20%
worst days happened in September, in which ~40% of the sampling days are the
20% haziest days at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. As shown in
Figure 4, sulfate is the largest aerosol contributor to haze in the summer,
with a contribution of 40-55% in the 20% worst days. In the spring, CM is
the largest aerosol contributor to haze, and its contribution is about 30%
in the worst days. Fine soil also contributes ~25% during the 20% worst days
in March, which may due to relatively long-range transported dust. |
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| Figure 3. Percentage of
sampling days that are 20% worst days in each month (Based on data available
in 1997-2002) |
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| Figure 4. Average
contributions of major aerosol chemical components to light extinction
during 20% worst days in each month (Based on data available in 1997-2002) |
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| For a detailed examination of
the aerosol characteristics at Big Bend National Park consult the
aerosol description web page. |
