Articles | Volume 20, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-2709-2020
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-2709-2020
Research article
 | 
05 Mar 2020
Research article |  | 05 Mar 2020

Significant seasonal changes in optical properties of brown carbon in the midlatitude atmosphere

Heejun Han, Guebuem Kim, Hojong Seo, Kyung-Hoon Shin, and Dong-Hun Lee

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Cited articles

Andreae, M. O. and Gelencsér, A.: Black carbon or brown carbon? The nature of light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosols, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 6, 3131–3148, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-6-3131-2006, 2006. 
Baduel, C., Voisin, D., and Jaffrezo, J. L.: Comparison of analytical methods for Humic Like Substances (HULIS) measurements in atmospheric particles, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 5949–5962, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-5949-2009, 2009. 
Baduel, C., Voisin, D., and Jaffrezo, J.-L.: Seasonal variations of concentrations and optical properties of water soluble HULIS collected in urban environments, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 4085–4095, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-4085-2010, 2010. 
Birdwell, J. E. and Engel, A. S.: Characterization of dissolved organic matter in cave and spring waters using UV-Vis absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy, Org. Geochem., 41, 270–280, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2009.11.002, 2010. 
Bro, R.: PARAFAC. Tutorial and applications, Chemometr. Intell. Lab., 38, 149–171, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-7439(97)00032-4, 1997. 
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Short summary
We found significant seasonal variations in optical and chemical properties of organic aerosols in the urban region and changes in photo-resistivity of light-absorbing organic aerosols (e.g., brown carbon) owing to the high UV radiation in the atmosphere. Our results suggest that photochemical degradation plays a significant role in light-absorbing organic aerosol abundances and might be an important removal mechanism of light-absorbing aerosols in the atmosphere.
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