Seasonal Variability of the Ion Composition,Phase State,and Mass Concentration of Aerosol in the Rural and Urban Atmosphere over Belgium (2001–2003)

Field data on the ion composition and mass concentration of aerosol in the rural (Wingene) and urban (Antwerp) regions of Belgium and the results of their thermodynamic analysis are presented. Ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate are found to be the major water-soluble components of aerosol particles. The seasonal variability of mass concentration, phase state, and ion composition of aerosol particles is largely determined by variations in temperature and relative humidity. It is shown that the content of ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate in PM2.5 is close to their thermodynamic equilibrium concentrations.