Evaluating ambient fine particulate matter source regions in the Ohio River Valley Region

Source types or source regions contributing to the concentration of atmospheric fine particles measured in the Ohio New River Valley were identified using cluster back trajectories chemical component analysis. Cluster analysis of backward air trajectories on fine particulate matter (FPM) with high and low concentrations was used to link factors to potential source regions. There is a high density of power plants along the Ohio River Valley. Some evidence suggests that secondary organic aerosol formation is an important contributor to high PM days for regional aerosols. Using analysis of chemical component, it is verified that sulfate is the dominant component in the Ohio River Valley Region. The chemical components included: Li ⁺ , Na ⁺ , NH ₄ ⁺ , K ⁺ , Mg ^{+ 2} , Ca ⁺ ², F‾, Cl‾, NO ₃ ‾, PO ₄ ‾³, SO ₄ ‾ ² , Si, S, Cl, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn.