Characterization of the Bermuda tropospheric aerosol by combined individual-particle and bulk-aerosol analysis

Marine boundary layer aerosol samples collected from Bermuda were examined by combined individual-particle analysis using an electron microprobe and bulk-sample analysis using INAA. Within the fine-fraction samples (<2μm) 65 particle types, including frequently occurring aggregates, are identified. Principal components analysis (PCA) indicates the presence of eight assemblages of particle types. A group of silicate and other crustal particle types are associated with bulk-sample Al, I, Mg, V, Co, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, Sc, and Th; this is most abundant when transport was across the ocean from North Africa. Three assemblages of S-rich particle types were generally most abundant when transport was from North America. -from Authors