Seasonal and temporal variations of ambient aerosols in a deciduous broadleaf forest from northern Japan: Contributions of biomass burning and biological particles

Total suspended particulate (TSP) samples were collected in a deciduous broadleaf forest Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, from January to December 2010 understand the molecular composition and abundance of sugar compounds (SCs) atmospheric aerosols. We analyzed for anhydrosugars, primary sugars, alcohols using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. The annual mean concentrations total SCs ranged 16.1 1748 ng m−3 (avg. 311 m−3) with maxima spring 484 minima winter 28.2 m−3). Primary sugars followed seasonal pattern SCs. High levels anhydrosugars 22.9 suggest contribution biomass burning domestic heating due lower ambient temperature. high arabitol mannitol by summer autumn denote multiple sources, i.e., growing vegetation fungal spores Sapporo forest. observed an enhanced bioaerosols emitted plant blossoms leaf decomposition autumn. identical trends glucose trehalose implied their similar sources Conversely, highest concentration sucrose was pollen emissions blooming plants. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analyses suggested that organic aerosols are associated including vegetation, microbes, pollens, wintertime burning. PMF analysis also is carbon source atmosphere. diagnostic mass ratios levoglucosan mannosan demonstrated dominance softwood noted meteorological parameters substantially affect emission