Organic nitrogen in rain and aerosol in the eastern Mediterranean atmosphere: An association with atmospheric dust

137Citations
Citations of this article
112Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

From March through early May of 2000, rain and bulk aerosol samples were collected at a coastal site on the eastern Mediterranean Sea at Erdemli, Turkey, and analyzed for nitrogen (N) species, including nitrate (NO-3), nitrite (NO-2), ammonium (NH+4), water-soluble organic N, urea, and dissolved free amino acids. Other ions were also analyzed, including Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+, Cl-, and SO2-4. Water-soluble organic N was found to contribute ∼17% and ∼26% of the total water-soluble N in rain and aerosols, respectively. Organic N concentrations within rain and aerosols exhibited statistically significant linear relationships to CA2+ ion (Rsqr ∼ 0.75, P < 0.05), suggesting a relationship to calcite (CaCO3) in atmospheric dust. Kinematic trajectory analyses indicated the origin of winds from arid regions, mainly in northern Africa, in 70% of the aerosols sampled. Earth Probe/Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer aerosol index data also confirmed the influence of atmospheric dust in the region on days when Ca2+ concentrations were elevated, and trajectory analyses suggested northern Africa as a source region. The combined ion, trajectory, and aerosol index data suggest that organic N is associated with atmospheric dust in this region. Urea N and amino N represented a small percentage of the organic N fraction. In rain and aerosols, urea represented ∼11% and <1%, respectively, of the total organic N. While amino N contributed minimally to organic N totals (∼1% of total organic N in aerosols), the individual amino acids contributing ∼75% of amino N were indicative of biological organisms. Further research is needed to decipher the influence from biology and gas phase adsorption of anthropogenically derived water-soluble organics on organic N totals.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Mace, K. A., Kubilay, N., & Duce, R. A. (2003). Organic nitrogen in rain and aerosol in the eastern Mediterranean atmosphere: An association with atmospheric dust. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 108(10). https://doi.org/10.1029/2002jd002997

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free