Long-range transport impacts from biomass burning and secondary pollutant sources based on receptor models during KORUS-AQ campaign

Scientific analyses were carried out to determine the effect of long-range transport of particulate matters based on chemical speciation of fine particulate matters (PM2.5) collected from the central area of Seoul, Republic of Korea. Based on chemical analysis of PM2.5, sources of emission of PM2.5 were determined by employing the sequence source apportionment methods such as chemical mass balance and positive matrix factorization. In addition, the path of migration of PM2.5 was traced employing models of residence time weighted concentration, and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts for the period of emission increase of PM2.5. Source apportionment results revealed that (1) biomass burning can be originated from wildfire in Russia based on fire spot monitored with a Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer from Terra & Aqua satellites. (2) Long-range transported PM2.5 contained secondary products of sulfate and nitrate from East of China. Data of the present study could be exploited for further studies delving into the long-range transport of particulate matters in the air.