Unique Sources of Particles

The foregoing discussion is intended to provide an overview of the most common characteristics of inorganic tropospheric particles. Obviously, there can be wide variation from such typical cases, especially under unusual circumstances. 

For example, in some areas dust storms are prevalent and extremely high particle concentrations along with unique elemental signatures result. One such case is in central California, where particle concentrations from Owens (dry) Lake are highest in the United 

TABLE 9.17 Individual Compounds Identified in the Ether-Extractable Organic Matter from Aerosol Particles Collected over the Southern Region of the North Atlantic  

States during dust storms, as much as 1000 ig m with arsenic levels as high as 0.4 pg m 3 (Reid et al., 1994). 

Similarly, the plume from the burning of oil wells in Kuwait had an unusual composition, containing both soot and significant salt concentrations due to brine mixed in with the oil see, for example, the special section in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 97 (D13), September 20, 1992.  

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