Temporal changes of inorganic ion deposition in the seasonal snow cover for the Austrian Alps (1983–2014)

A long-term record of inorganic ion concentrations in wet and dry deposition sampled from snow packs at two high altitude glaciers was used to assess impacts of air pollution on remote sites in central Europe. Sampling points were located at Wurtenkees and Goldbergkees near the Sonnblick Observatory (3106 m above sea level), a background site for measuring the status of the atmosphere in Austria's Eastern Alps. Sampling was carried out every spring at the end of the winter accumulation period in the years 1983–2014. Concentrations of major ions (NH4+, SO42−, NO3−, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+ and Cl−) were determined using ion chromatography (IC) as well as atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) in the earlier years. Concentration of H+ was calculated via the measured pH of the samples. Trends in deposition and concentration were analysed for all major ions within the period from 1983 to 2014 using Kendall's tau rank correlation coefficient. From 1983 to 2014, total ion concentration declined ∼25%, i.e. solutions became ∼25% more dilute, indicating reduced acidic atmospheric deposition, even at high altitude in winter snow. SO42− and NO3− concentrations decreased significantly by 70% and 30%, respectively, accompanied by a 54% decrease of H+ concentrations. Ionic concentrations in snowpack were dominated by H+ and SO42− in the earliest decade measured, whereas they were dominated by Ca2+ by the most recent decade. SO42− and H+ depositions, i.e. concentrations multiplied by volume, also showed a significant decrease of more than 50% at both sites. This reflects the successful emission reductions of the precursor gases SO2 and NOx. Seasonal values with significantly elevated spring concentrations of NH4+, SO42− and H+ compared to fall snow reflects the beginning of vertical mixing during spring. All other ions do not show any seasonality. Source identification of the ions was performed using a principal component analysis (PCA). One anthropogenic cluster (SO42−, NO3− and NH4+) coming from road traffic or fossil fuel combustion and animal husbandry, one crustal cluster (Ca2+, Mg2+) originating from local geological input or Saharan dust events as well as one cluster of unknown origin with episodic character (Na+, K+ and Cl−) was found

Properties of jet engine combustion particles during the partemis experiment: Microphysics and chemistry, Geophys

[1] The particles emitted from an aircraft engine combustor were investigated in the European project PartEmis. Measured aerosol properties were mass and number concentration, size distribution, mixing state, thermal stability of internally mixed particles, hygroscopicity, and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activation potential. The combustor operation conditions corresponded to modern and older engine gas path temperatures at cruise altitude, with fuel sulphur contents (FSC) of 50, 410, and 1270 mg g À1 . Operation conditions and FSC showed only a weak influence on the microphysical aerosol properties, except for hygroscopic and CCN properties. Particles of size D ! 30 nm were almost entirely internally mixed. Particles of sizes D < 20 nm showed a considerable volume fraction of compounds that volatilise at 390 K (10 -15%) and 573 K (4 -10%), while respective fractions decreased to <5% for particles of size D ! 50 nm

Long-term chemical analysis and organic aerosol source apportionment at 9 sites in Central Europe : Source identification and uncertainty assessment

Long-term monitoring of the organic aerosol is important for epidemiological studies, validation of atmospheric models, and air quality management. In this study, we apply a recently developed filter-based offline methodology of the 20 aerosol mass spectrometer to investigate the regional and seasonal differences of contributing organic aerosol sources. We present offline-AMS measurements for particulate matter smaller than 10 \u3bcm 9 stations in central Europe with different exposure characteristics for the entire year of 2013 (819 samples). The focus of this study is a detailed source apportionment analysis (using PMF) including in-depth assessment of the related uncertainties. Primary organic aerosol (POA) is separated in three components: hydrocarbon-like OA which is related to traffic emissions (HOA), cooking OA (COA), and biomass- 25 burning OA (BBOA). We observe enhanced production of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in summer, following the increase in biogenic emissions with temperature (summer oxygenated OA, SOOA). In addition, a SOA component was extracted that correlated with anthropogenic secondary inorganic species which is dominant in winter (winter oxygenated OA, WOOA). A factor (SC-OA) explaining sulfur-containing fragments (CH3SO2+), which has an event-driven temporal behavior, was also identified. The relative yearly average factor contributions range for HOA from 3 to 15%, for COA from 30 3 to 31%, for BBOA from 11 to 61%, for SC-OA from 5 to 23%, for WOOA from 14 to 28%, and for SOOA from 14 to 40%. The uncertainty of the relative average factor contribution lies between 5 and 9% of OA. At the sites north of the alpine crest, the sum of HOA, COA, and BBOA (POA) contributes less to OA (POA/OA=0.3) than at the southern alpine valley sites (0.6). BBOA is the main contributor to POA with 88% in alpine valleys and 43% north of the alpine crest. Furthermore, the influence of primary biological particles (PBOA), not resolved by PMF, is estimated and could contribute significantly to OA in PM10

Thrombelastometry - internal and external quality control

Patient near diagnostics ensure the monitoring of the individual hemostatic capacity of surgery and intensive care patients. Therefor thrombelastometry provideds a series of standard measurements. The challenge for such a bedside diagnostic method is that it can be performed by "laboratory-unexpierenced" staff, and special attention has to be paid to result validation. External quality controls with External Quality Assessment Schemes (EQAS) provide an appropriate instrument, which was established for the thrombelastometry. The increasing number of participants and good pass rates show the relevance of this topic. Here we present a summary of the results and experiences of four consecutive EQAS. With average inter laboratory coefficients of variation (CVs) of <20% the results are within the range of typical physiological plasma clotting methods.Patientennahe Diagnostik sichert die Überwachung der individuellen Hämostasekapazität von Patienten der Operativen und der Intensivmedizin. Die Thrombelastometrie bildet hierfür ein standardisiertes Spektrum von Messgrößen an. Die Herausforderung dieser schnellen diagnostischen Methode, die von "laborunerfahrenem" Personal durchgeführt werden kann, bedeutet andererseits, dass ein besonderes Augenmerk auf valide Ergebnisse gelegt werden muss. Die externe Qualitätssicherung über Ringversuche stellt dafür ein probates Mittel dar, die für die Thrombelastometrie etabliert wurde. Die steigenden Teilnehmerzahlen und guten Bestehensquoten zeigen die hohe Relevanz dieser Thematik. Wir präsentieren hier eine Zusammenfassung der Ergebnisse und Erfahrungen aus vier konsekutiven Ringversuchen. Mit mittleren Interlabor-Variationskoeffizienten (VKs) von <20% bewegen sich die Ergebnisse im Bereich der gerinnungsphysiologischen Plasmamethoden

External quality assessment for the quality assurance of haemostaseological global tests/POCT

External quality assessment contributes essentially to quality assurance in medical diagnostics. Especially POCT of hemostasis diagnostics make this a particular challenging task for participants and the EQA organization, as the required whole blood samples are particularly sensitive to transport and waiting times. In addition, device manufacturers provide a variety of measuring methods that are not equally suitable for the use of the EQA sample. Over the past few years, conditions for the EQA of hemostasis POCT in whole blood have been adjusted and improved. Meanwhile the EQA show an acceptable passing rate, even though in general it remains a great challenge to adapt the EQA samples to the whole blood or plasma sample of the daily routine.Ringversuche leisten für die Qualitätssicherung in der medizinischen Diagnostik einen essentiellen Beitrag. Speziell POCT der Gerinnungsdiagnostik stellen hierbei besondere Herausforderungen an Teilnehmer und Ringversuchsorganisation, da die benötigten Vollblutproben besonders sensibel auf Transport und Wartezeiten reagieren. Zusätzlich werden von den Geräteherstellern verschiedenste Messverfahren verwendet, die sich unterschiedlich gut für den Einsatz der Ringversuchsprobe eignen. Über die vergangenen Jahre wurden Bedingungen für die Ringversuche der Gerinnungs-POCT im Vollblut angepasst und verbessert. Die Ringversuche zeigen inzwischen akzeptable Bestehensquoten (75-100%), auch wenn es grundsätzlich eine große Herausforderung bleibt, Ringversuchsproben an die Vollblut- oder Plasmaprobe des Alltags anzupassen