不同吸湿性的气溶胶对云和降水影响研究进展

气溶胶、云、降水相互关系是现今大气科学的前沿领域。本文总体概括了气溶胶作为云凝结核和冰核,对云宏微观物理特性及降水的影响原理研究的主要成果。并根据气溶胶自身化学性质的吸湿性,从吸湿性气溶胶和非吸湿性气溶胶两方面,重点探讨了模拟研究中,硫酸盐、海盐、沙尘、黑碳气溶胶对于云和降水的影响,以及各类气溶胶与其它类型气溶胶相比,作用于云降水的不同方式。提出之前研究工作的不足,以期为今后该方向的研究提供一些思路。      

A Review of Aerosol Optical Properties and Radiative Effects

Atmospheric aerosols influence the earth's radiative balance directly through scattering and absorbing solar radiation, and indirectly through affecting cloud properties. An understanding of aerosol optical properties is fundamental to studies of aerosol effects on climate. Although many such studies have been undertaken, large uncertainties in describing aerosol optical characteristics remain, especially regarding the absorption properties of different aerosols. Aerosol radiative effects are considered as either positive or negative perturbations to the radiation balance, and they include direct, indirect (albedo effect and cloud lifetime effect), and semi-direct effects. The total direct effect of anthropogenic aerosols is negative (cooling), although some components may contribute a positive effect (warming). Both the albedo effect and cloud lifetime effect cool the atmosphere by increasing cloud optical depth and cloud cover, respectively. Absorbing aerosols, such as carbonaceous aerosols and dust, exert a positive forcing at the top of atmosphere and a negative forcing at the surface, and they can directly warm the atmosphere. Internally mixed black carbon aerosols produce a stronger warming effect than externally mixed black carbon particles do. The semi-direct effect of absorbing aerosols could amplify this warming effect. Based on observational (ground-and satellite-based) and simulation studies, this paper reviews current progress in research regarding the optical properties and radiative effects of aerosols and also discusses several important issues to be addressed in future studies.     

Climate forcing by carbonaceous and sulfate aerosols

 An atmospheric general circulation model is coupled to an atmospheric chemistry model to calculate the radiative forcing by anthropogenic sulfate and carbonaceous aerosols. The latter aerosols result from biomass burning as well as fossil fuel burning. The black carbon associated with carbonaceous aerosols is absorbant and can decrease the amount of reflected radiation at the top-of-the-atmosphere. In contrast, sulfate aerosols are reflectant and the amount of reflected radiation depends nonlinearly on the relative humidity. We examine the importance of treating the range of optical properties associated with sulfate aerosol at high relative humidities and find that the direct forcing by anthropogenic sulfate aerosols can decrease from −0.81 W m^-2 to −0.55 Wm^-2 if grid box average relative humidity is not allowed to increase above 90%. The climate forcing associated with fossil fuel emissions of carbonaceous aerosols is calculated to range from +0.16 to +0.20 Wm^-2, depending on how much organic carbon is associated with the black carbon from fossil fuel burning. The direct forcing of carbonaceous aerosols associated with biomass burning is calculated to range from −0.23 to −0.16 Wm^-2. The pattern of forcing by carbonaceous aerosols depends on both the surface albedo and the presence of clouds. Multiple scattering associated with clouds and high surface albedos can change the forcing from negative to positive. Received: 29 September 1997 / Accepted: 10 June 1998     

0-D-Modelling of Carbonaceous Aerosols over Greater Paris Focusing on the Organic Particle Formation

To improve our understanding of aerosol formation and ageing in urban atmospheres, we have tested the ORISAM 0-D aerosol module (ORganic and Inorganic Spectral Aerosol Model). This module accounts for both types of primary carbonaceous particles (black carbon BC and primary organic carbon OC_p) and also simulates the formation of secondary inorganic and organic particles (sulfates, nitrates, ammonium, water and secondary organic carbon particles OC_sec) by attachment of gas precursors to pre-existing carbonaceous particles. Simulations were performed for surface aerosols over Greater Paris area during the ESQUIF summer 1998 and winter 2000 experiments. Results show that OC_sec formation is highly dependent on temperature and insolation with more intense secondary formation in summer than in winter. Moreover in Summer, when atmospheric conditions shift from warm and humid to hot and dry, the model indicates a decreasing formation of secondary organic aerosols OC_sec as shown by an increase of the OC_p/(OC_p+OC_sec) ratio from 42 to 56%. These results satisfactorily compare with the few experimental available data for BC/(OC_p+OC_sec) ratios increasing from 24 to 37% against modelled values in the range 21–32%. ORISAM module sensitivity to initial size distributions, background concentrations and emissions of gases and primary carbonaceous particles was documented too. One main result is that the formation of secondary organic particles with ORISAM is very sensitive to the concentrations of gaseous precursors. At the present stage of ORISAM development, OC_sec build up appears to be however less sensitive to particulate background concentrations.     

Particulate content of savanna fire emissions

As part of the FOS-DECAFE experiment at Lamto (Ivory Coast) in January 1991, various aerosol samples were collected at ground level near prescribed fires or under local background conditions, to characterize the emissions of particulate matter from the burning of savanna vegetation. This paper deals with total aerosol (TPM) and carbon measurements. Detailed trace element and polycyclic hydrocarbon data are discussed in other papers presented in this issue.Near the fire plumes, the aerosols from biomass burning are primarily of a carbonaceous nature (C%70% of the aerosol mass) and consist predominantly of submicron particles (more than 90% in mass.) They are characterized by their organic nature (black to total carbon ratio Cb/Ct in the range 3–20%) and their high potassium content (K/Cb0.6). These aerosols undergo aging during their first minutes in the atmosphere causing slight alterations in their size distribution and chemical composition. However, they remain enriched in potassium (K/Cb=0.21) and pyrene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, such that both of these species may be used as tracers of savanna burning aerosols. We show that during this period of the year, the background atmosphere experiences severe pollution from both terrigenous sources and regional biomass burning (44% of the aerosol). Daynight variations of the background carbon concentrations suggest that fire ignition and spreading occur primarily during the day. Simultaneous TPM and CO₂ real-time measurements point to a temporal and spatial heterogeneity of the burning so that the ratio of the above background concentrations (TPM/CO₂) varies from 2 to 400 g/kg C. Smoldering processes are intense sources of particles but particulate emissions may also be important during the rapidly spreading heading fires in connection with the generation of heavy brown smoke. We propose emission factor values (EF) for aerosols from the savanna biomass burning aerosols: EF (TPM)=11.4±4.6 and 69±25 g/kg C_{dry plant} and EF(Ct)=7.4±3.4 and 56±16 g C/kg C_{dry plant} for flaming and smoldering processes respectively. In these estimates, the range of uncertainty is mostly due to the intra-fire variability. These values are significantly lower than those reported in the literature for the combustion of other types of vegetation. But due to the large amounts of vegetation biomass being burnt in African savannas, the annual flux of particulate carbon into the atmosphere is estimated to be of the order of 8 Tg C, which rivals particulate carbon emissions from anthropogenic activities in temperate regions.     

Chemical Characteristics of Carbonaceous Aerosols During Dust Storms over Xi'an in China

Characterization of carbonaceous aerosols including CC （carbonate carbon）, OC （organic carbon）, and EC （elemental carbon） were investigated at Xi＇an, China, near Asian dust source regions in spring 2002. OC varied between 8.2 and 63.7μgm^- 3, while EC ranged between 2.4 and 17.2 μ m^-3 during the observation period. OC variations followed a similar pattern to EC and the correlation coefficient between OC and EC is 0.89 （n=31）. The average percentage of total carbon （TC, sum of CC, OC, and EC） in PM2.5 during dust storm （DS） events was 13.6%, which is lower than that during non-dust storm （NDS） periods （22.7%）. CC, OC, and EC accounted for 12.9%, 70.7%, and 16.4% of TC during DS events, respectively. The average ratio of OC/EC was 5.0 in DS events and 3.3 in NDS periods. The OC-EC correlation （R^2=0.76, n=6） was good in DS events, while it was stronger （R^2=0.90, n=25） in NDS periods. The percentage of watersoluble OC （WSOC） in TC accounted for 15.7%, and varied between 13.3% and 22.3% during DS events. The distribution of eight carbon fractions indicated that local emissions such as motor vehicle exhaust were the dominant contributors to carbonaceous particles. During DS events, soil dust dominated the chemical composition, contributing 69% to the PM2.5 mass, followed by organic matter （12.8%）, sulfate （4%）, EC （2.2%）, and chloride （1.6%）. Consequently, CC was mainly entrained by Asian dust. However, even in the atmosphere near Asian dust source regions, OC and EC in atmospheric dust were controlled by local emission rather titan the transport of Asian dust.     

Aging of savanna biomass burning aerosols: Consequences on their optical properties

During the FOS-DECAFE experiment at Lamto, Ivory Coast, in January 1991, various ground studies were undertaken simultaneously in order to investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of smoke emitted by savanna biomass burning. Here we present sunphotometer ground-based results which allow the measurements of the spectral optical depth between 450 and 850 nm, the atmospheric water vapour content and the particle size distribution spectrum. The carbonaceous content of the savanna biomass burning aerosols is also investigated. This is the first time that the physical characteristics of particles emitted by savanna plumes are obtained from ground-field studies. All the results suggest that a rapid aging of the smoke occurs first hundred metres from the savanna fire èmission source. They show a relationship between the optical properties of smoke and the chemical aging of the aerosols primarily due to particle growth and a loss of organic material relative to the black carbon content.     

城市大气气溶胶细粒子的化学成分及其来源

大气气溶胶细颗粒物（PM10、PM2．5）是近年来大气气溶胶研究的热点。细粒子中含有多种化学元素与化合物。细粒子中的化学成分随时空变化而变化。细粒子主要来自车辆尾气、化石、油料及生物质燃料燃烧等人为排放源和二次污染。     

东亚地区人为气溶胶直接辐射强迫及其气候效应的数值模拟

利用耦合化学过程的区域气候模式RegCM3,模拟研究3种主要人为排放气溶胶(硫酸盐、黑碳、有机碳)对东亚区域气候的影响.计算分析近20 a来3种气溶胶的时空分布、综合辐射强迫作用及其对地面气温和降水的影响.模拟结果表明:3种气溶胶冬夏季分布有所不同,冬季气溶胶大值区主要分布在南方地区,而夏季大值区北移;气溶胶短波辐射强迫在大气层顶和地面均为负值;气溶胶的加入对东亚地区地表气温有明显影响,冬季降温中心位于四川盆地,夏季降温大值区位于华北地区.气溶胶直接气候效应使得冬季东亚大部分地区降水减少,夏季东亚地区降水与中国南方地区夏季气溶胶浓度有较好的相关关系,中国东部雨带有南移趋势.     

气溶胶影响云和降水的机理和观测研究进展

气溶胶对云和降水的影响,对于气候系统、大气环境以及水循环至关重要。气溶胶粒子作为云凝结核和大气冰核影响云的微物理过程,进而影响雨、雪、雹和其他形式的降水。近年来,在理解气溶胶的化学成分,气溶胶微物理特性以及气溶胶作为云凝结核和大气冰核影响云降水等方面已取得重大进展。本文对于气溶胶的概念、来源以及气溶胶的直接和间接效应进行了简要概述,重点总结了国内外在气溶胶影响云和降水的机理研究方面的成果,回顾了近年来利用卫星、地面观测设备、机载探测设备等对气溶胶和云进行遥感观测和直接观测所获得的观测事实并讨论了其可能的物理机制,在总结前人研究成果的基础上对未来的研究方向进行了讨论。     

云凝结物平流输送对降水云系发展影响的数值模拟研究

大气动力学中"平流输送"是非常重要的宏观动力学过程,云凝结物的平流输送与降水云系的发展演变密切相关,它把宏观动力过程与各种云凝结物粒子的时空演变联系起来,云凝结物的平流输送可以增加或减少局地大气中云凝结物的含量,改变云凝结物的空间分布状况,影响云凝结物的微观物理过程,进而促进或抑制降水云系的发展演变.本文在数值模拟研究中.通过改变云凝结物平流输送的状况来研究宏观动力过程对云微观物理过程的影响,因而利用ARPS模式开展3个分别排除云凝结物水平平流输送、垂直平流输送和三维平流输送的敏感试验,进行关于云凝结物平流输送对降水云系发展演变影响的敏感性数值模拟研究.结果表明,云凝结物的平流输送对水汽比湿的影响很小.云凝结物的三维平流输送有利于增加降水云系中雪和霰的混合比含量,抑制云水、雨水和云冰混合比含量的增长.云凝结物的水平平流输送可以降低降水云系中云水和雨水的混合比含量,增加云冰和雪的混合比含量;云凝结物垂直平流输送的作用是增加降水云系中雨水、雪和霰的混合比含量,减少云与冰混合比含量.云凝结物三维平流输送效应的分析表明,云凝结物的三维平流输送主要通过调整云凝结物的微物理过程源汇项以及降水粒子(雨水、雪和霰)的下落末速项来改变降水云系中云凝结物的垂直结构;另外,雪的三维平流输送对雪本身的分布也有一定影响.     

Cloud microphysical and precipitation responses to a large-scale forcing in the tropical deep convective regime

Summary Cloud microphysical and precipitation responses to a large-scale forcing in the tropical deep convective regime are investigated based on hourly zonally-averaged, vertically-integrated simulation data from a two-dimensional coupled ocean-cloud resolving atmosphere model. The model is forced by the large-scale vertical velocity and zonal wind observed and derived from TOGA COARE for a 50-day period. The accretion of cloud water by graupel induces growth of graupel that enhances raindrops through its melting during a weak-forcing period, whereas the large deposition rate of vapor associated with a large upper-tropospheric upward motion causes growth of snow from the conversion of cloud ice and enhancement of graupel from the accretion of snow during a strong-forcing period. The local changes of raindrops and graupel switch from the negative to positive values as the forcing strengthens in the weak-forcing case, whereas the variations of cloud hydrometeors are not sensitive to the strength of the forcing in the strong-forcing case. Phase analysis indicates that cloud water leads the surface rain rate by 1 hour. The surface rain rate can be calculated based on the conservation of vapor and cloud hydrometeors and the budget of raindrops. The vapor source and local changes of cloud hydrometeors could have impacts in the calculation of the surface rain rate. The vapor source determines the surface rain rate in the strong-forcing case whereas the cloud variations could become important in the weak-forcing case. In the budget of raindrops, the sum of the collection of cloud water by raindrops, the melting of graupel, and the evaporation of raindrops determines the surface rain rate in the strong-forcing case whereas the other rain-related microphysical processes become important in the weak-forcing case.     

Chemical composition of PM2.5 at an urban site of Chengdu in southwestern China

PM2.5 aerosols were sampled in urban Chengdu from April 2009 to January 2010, and their chemical compositions were characterized in detail for elements, water soluble inorganic ions, and carbonaceous matter. The annual average of PM2.5 was 165g m－3, which is generally higher than measurements in other Chinese cities, suggesting serious particulate pollution issues in the city. Water soluble ions contributed 43.5% to the annual total PM2.5 mass, carbonaceous aerosols including elemental carbon and organic carbon contributed 32.0%, and trace elements contributed 13.8%. Distinct daily and seasonal variations were observed in the mass concentrations of PM2.5 and its components, reflecting the seasonal variations of different anthropogenic and natural sources. Weakly acidic to neutral particles were found for PM2.5. Major sources of PM2.5 identified from source apportionment analysis included coal combustion, traffic exhaust, biomass burning, soil dust, and construction dust emissions. The low nitrate: sulfate ratio suggested that stationary emissions were more important than vehicle emissions. The reconstructed masses of ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, particulate carbonaceous matter, and fine soil accounted for 79% of the total measured PM2.5 mass; they also accounted for 92% of the total measured particle scattering.     

Characteristics of Anthropogenic Sulfate and Carbonaceous Aerosols over East Asia： Regional Modeling and Observation

The authors present spatial and temporal characteristics of anthropogenic sulfate and carbonaceous aerosols over East Asia using a 3-D coupled regional climate-chemistry-aerosol model, and compare the simulation with the limited aerosol observations over the region. The aerosol module consists of SO2, SO4^2-, hydrophobic and hydrophilic black carbon （BC） and organic carbon compounds （OC）, including emission, advections, dry and wet deposition, and chemical production and conversion. The simulated patterns of SO2 are closely tied to its emission rate, with sharp gradients between the highly polluted regions and more rural areas. Chemical conversion （especially in the aqueous phase） and dry deposition remove 60% and 30% of the total SO2 emission, respectively. The SO4^2- shows less horizontal gradient and seasonality than SO2, with wet deposition （60%） and export （27%） being two major sinks. Carbonaceous aerosols are spatially smoother than sulfur species. The aging process transforms more than 80% of hydrophobic BC and OC to hydrophilic components, which are removed by wet deposition （60%） and export （30%）. The simulated spatial and seasonal SO4^2-, BC and OC aerosol concentrations and total aerosol optical depth are generally consistent with the observations in rural areas over East Asia, with lower bias in simulated OC aerosols, likely due to the underestimation of anthropogenic OC emissions and missing treatment of secondary organic carbon. The results suggest that our model is a useful tool for characterizing the anthropogenic aerosol cycle and for assessing its potential climatic and environmental effects in future studies.     

基于飞机观测的华北积层混合云降水微物理特征的数值模拟研究

基于2009年5月1日积层混合云降水2架飞机观测数据分析,使用中尺度模式WRFV3对此次过程积云区和层云区的微物理特征和转化过程进行数值模拟比较研究。飞机观测数据分析表明,此次积层混合云中的层云区和积云区冰粒子形状和形成过程有明显差别,层云区的粒子形状组成比较复杂,包含针状、柱状和辐枝状等,而积云区主要以辐枝状粒子为主,聚并、凇附过程明显。数值模式能较好地模拟出此次积层混合云降水过程的基本特征,包括回波分布、飞行路径上降水粒子的数浓度和液态水含量等。数值模拟结果表明,云水相对丰富、上升气流强的层云区凇附过程较强,产生的雪在低层融化为雨水,为后期高层形成的雪和霰提供丰富的液态水,能发展成对流较强的积云区,存在播种—供给机制。在积云区,水成物的比例从大到小依次为雪（51.9%）、霰（31.0%）和雨水（16.0%）;雪的主要源项包括淞附增长（56.8%）和凝华增长（40.1%）,霰的主要源项包括凇附增长（46.6%）、雨水碰并雪成霰（42.6%）和凝华增长（16.1%）,雨水的主要源项是霰（77.6%）和雪（22.4%）的融化。而相对云水较少、上升气流较弱的层云区将保持层云的状态,层云区水成物的比例从大到小依次为雪（90.4%）、雨水（6.1%）、冰晶（3.5%）;高层冰晶和雪通过凝华过程增长,雪在零度层下融化为弱的降水。     

Dominant cloud microphysical processes of a torrential rainfall event in Sichuan,China

High-resolution numerical simulation data of a rainstorm triggering debris flow in Sichuan Province of China simulated by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model were used to study the dominant cloud microphysical processes of the torrential rainfall. The results showed that: (1) In the strong precipitation period, particle sizes of all hydrometeors increased, and mean-mass diameters of graupel increased the most significantly, as compared with those in the weak precipitation period; (2) The terminal velocity of raindrops was the strongest among all hydrometeors, followed by graupel’s, which was much smaller than that of raindrops. Differences between various hydrometeors’ terminal velocities in the strong precipitation period were larger than those in the weak precipitation period, which favored relative motion, collection interaction and transformation between the particles. Absolute terminal velocity values of raindrops and graupel were significantly greater than those of air upward velocity, and the stronger the precipitation was, the greater the differences between them were; (3) The orders of magnitudes of the various hydrometeors’ sources and sinks in the strong precipitation period were larger than those in the weak precipitation period, causing a difference in the intensity of precipitation. Water vapor, cloud water, raindrops, graupel and their exchange processes played a major role in the production of the torrential rainfall, and there were two main processes via which raindrops were generated: abundant water vapor condensed into cloud water and, on the one hand, accretion of cloud water by rain water formed rain water, while on the other hand, accretion of cloud water by graupel formed graupel, and then the melting of graupel formed rain water.     

A Modeling Study of the Climate Effects of Sulfate and Carbonaceous Aerosols over China

In this paper, the RIEMS 2.0 model is used to simulate the distribution of sulfate, black carbon, and organic carbon aerosols over China (16.2°-44.1°N, 93.4°-132.4°E) in 1998. The climate effects of these three anthropogenic aerosols are also simulated. The results are summarized as follows: (1) The regional average column burdens of sulfate, BC, OC, and SOC were 5.9, 0.24, 2.4, and 0.49 mg m-2, with maxima of 33.9, 1.48, 7.3, and 1.1 mg m-2, respectively. The column burden and surface concentration of seco...     

对流涡度矢量和湿涡度矢量在暴雨诊断分析中的应用研究

利用对流涡度矢量(CVV, (ζa×θe)/ρ)和湿涡度矢量(MVV, (ζa×θv)/ρ)对华北地区一次大范围的大到暴雨天气过程进行了诊断研究.结果表明,CVV和MVV垂直分量与云和降水密切相关,暴雨区区域平均和垂直积分的CVV和MVV垂直分量与云中水凝物混合比的相关系数分别为0.92和0.95,与降水率的相关系数分别为0.71和0.47.云中水凝物分为液态水凝物和固态水凝物,虽然同态水凝物的含量相对较少,但它在云的变化中起着更重要的作用.滞后相关分析表明,降水率的峰值到来之前4-5 h云中水凝物含晕最少,降水率的峰值到来之后1-2 h,云中水凝物含量最多.云中水凝物与降水率的滞后相关系数主要是由液态水凝物与降水率的滞后相关系数决定的,只有约1/4的滞后相关系数是由固态水凝物与降水率的滞后相关系数贡献的.CVV和MVV的垂直分量与云中水凝物具有非常好的相关性(同时及滞后),与降水率的相关也较好,可以代表云和对流系统的发展.CVV和MVV垂直分量的局地变化超前降水率3 h左右,可以作为降水发生的先兆,对降水的预报有潜在的意义.CVV垂直分量的局地变化与降水率的相关系数大于MVV垂直分量的局地变化与降水率的相关系数,因此在实际预报中可以利用CVV垂直分量的局地变化来估计未来降水的变化.     

Simulation of the radiative effect of black carbon aerosols and the regional climate responses over China

As part of the development work of the Chinese new regional climate model (RIEMS), the radiative process of black carbon (BC) aerosols has been introduced into the original radiative procedures of RIEMS,and the transport model of BC aerosols has also been established and combined with the RIEMS model.Using the new model system, the distribution of black carbon aerosols and their radiative effect over the China region are investigated. The influences of BC aerosole on the atmospheric radiative transfer and on the air temperature, land surface temperature, and total rainfall are analyzed. It is found that BC aerosols induce a positive radiative forcing at the top of the atmosphere (TOA), which is dominated by shortwave radiative forcing. The maximum radiative forcing occurs in North China in July and in South China in April. At the same time, negative radiative forcing is observed on the surface. Based on the radiative forcing comparison between clear sky and cloudy sky, it is found that cloud can enforce the TOA positive radiative forcing and decrease the negative surface radiative forcing. The responses of the climate system in July to the radiative forcing due to BC aerosols are the decrease in the air temperature in the middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang River and Huaihe area and most areas of South China, and the weak increase or decrease in air temperature over North China. The total rainfall in the middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang River area is increased, but it decreased in North China in July.     

Evaluation of an automated EA-IRMS method for total carbon analysis of atmospheric aerosol at HEKAL

Comprehensive atmospheric studies have demonstrated that carbonaceous particles are one of the main components of atmospheric aerosols over Europe. The aim of our study was to establish an automated elemental analyser interfaced to a stable isotope mass spectrometer (EA-IRMS) method at the Hertelendi Laboratory of Environmental Studies (HEKAL), as a suitable method of quantification of total carbon mass in individual PM_2.5 aerosol samples. Total carbon (TC) mass and simultaneous stable isotopic ratios were determined for both test standard and genuine aerosol samples. Finally, the results were compared to the ones obtained independently by an alternative sealed tube combustion method developed previously at HEKAL. The TC recovery tests of standard material prepared by the sealed tube method confirmed at least a carbon recovery yield of 92% for a broad range of carbon mass (100–2000 μg). The stable isotopic results confirmed that sealed tube method is reproducible and suitable to be used as a reference to verify our new EA-IRMS method. The EA-IRMS TC measurements of genuine aerosols gave on average 3% higher carbon recovery yield, relative to the uncorrected results of the sealed tube method. The comparison of the stable isotopic results by the two methods for aerosols also showed minimal differences. Consequently, the possibility of simultaneous TC and stable isotopic analyses makes the EA-IRMS method a very attractive alternative for continuous measurement of aerosols, with an accuracy and reliability similar to other commercial devices.