<p>In this study, we characterized submicron and nanosized aerosol particles by investigating their number concentration, morphology, and elemental composition in three areas of Moscow representing low (urban park), moderate (industrial), and high (traffic-influenced residential) anthropogenic load. Measurements were performed during 17–21 June 2021; each site was monitored for one full 24-h period on different days using SMPS scans at 5-min resolution. Particle number concentrations (mean ± SD) were lowest in the park area (11,981 ± 4028 cm<InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$^{-3}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mmultiscripts> <mrow /> <mrow /> <mrow> <mo>-</mo> <mn>3</mn> </mrow> </mmultiscripts> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>), intermediate in the industrial area (49,864 ± 340 cm<InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$^{-3}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mmultiscripts> <mrow /> <mrow /> <mrow> <mo>-</mo> <mn>3</mn> </mrow> </mmultiscripts> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>), and highest in the residential area adjacent to a major highway (94,857 ± 5420 cm<InlineEquation ID="IEq3"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$^{-3}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mmultiscripts> <mrow /> <mrow /> <mrow> <mo>-</mo> <mn>3</mn> </mrow> </mmultiscripts> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>). Daily concentration dynamics were consistent with local anthropogenic activity: in the residential area, peaks coincided with rush hours, while in the industrial area they aligned with the operating period of a thermal power plant. Morphological analysis indicated ragged-edged particles in the park area, smoothed-edge particles in the residential area, and large aggregates as well as spherical particles in the industrial area; elemental composition likewise differed among zones from a basic set of elements in the park area to more complex signatures in the residential and industrial areas. Overall, these observations demonstrate pronounced short-term zonal contrasts in aerosol characteristics under the measurement conditions.</p>

Short-term zonal contrasts of Moscow’s submicron and nanoaerosols: integrating particle number concentration, morphology, and elemental composition across functional urban zones

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2026年3月26日

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Evgeny Kolesnikov,
Vladislav Kurichenko,
Efim Argunov,
Anastasia Nogacheva,
Arina Taskina,
Vera Levina,
Denis Kuznetsov

摘要

In this study, we characterized submicron and nanosized aerosol particles by investigating their number concentration, morphology, and elemental composition in three areas of Moscow representing low (urban park), moderate (industrial), and high (traffic-influenced residential) anthropogenic load. Measurements were performed during 17–21 June 2021; each site was monitored for one full 24-h period on different days using SMPS scans at 5-min resolution. Particle number concentrations (mean ± SD) were lowest in the park area (11,981 ± 4028 cm $^{-3}$ $^{- 3}$ ), intermediate in the industrial area (49,864 ± 340 cm $^{-3}$ $^{- 3}$ ), and highest in the residential area adjacent to a major highway (94,857 ± 5420 cm $^{-3}$ $^{- 3}$ ). Daily concentration dynamics were consistent with local anthropogenic activity: in the residential area, peaks coincided with rush hours, while in the industrial area they aligned with the operating period of a thermal power plant. Morphological analysis indicated ragged-edged particles in the park area, smoothed-edge particles in the residential area, and large aggregates as well as spherical particles in the industrial area; elemental composition likewise differed among zones from a basic set of elements in the park area to more complex signatures in the residential and industrial areas. Overall, these observations demonstrate pronounced short-term zonal contrasts in aerosol characteristics under the measurement conditions.