Articles | Volume 16, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2333-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2333-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
05 May 2023
Research article |
| 05 May 2023
| 05 May 2023
Performance evaluation of portable dual-spot micro-aethalometers for source identification of black carbon aerosols: application to wildfire smoke and traffic emissions in the Pacific Northwest
Mrinmoy Chakraborty
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada
Amanda Giang
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada
Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada
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Cited
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Domestic solid fuel burning in London: Air pollution impacts at neighbourhood, street and city scales L. Mittal et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2026.122153
- The applicability and challenges of black carbon sensors in monitoring networks J. Elomaa et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-293-2025
- Multi-wavelength spectral attribution of equivalent black carbon in Medellín, Colombia (2010–2023): Disentangling fossil fuel and biomass burning using the MABI instrument D. Grajales-González et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2026.103203
- Quantitative uncertainty and post-processing for micro-aethalometers measuring black carbon T. Sipkens et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-3123-2026
- Applicability of aethalometers for monitoring diesel particulate matter concentrations and exposure in underground mines H. Koponen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaerosci.2023.106330
- Black carbon characterization and source apportionment over a semi-tourist site in the central Himalayan Region, India J. Kuniyal et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-025-01727-2
- Evaluation of mass measurement techniques for soot with different size distributions and OC ∕ TC contents B. Sagot et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-4-121-2026
- A demonstrative study of a novel approach for spectral based source apportionment of ambient aerosols C. Gombi et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04022-3
- Impact of residential cooking and heating on temporal changes of black carbon in rural India M. Chakraborty et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-18384-1
- Highly light-absorbing particle emissions from low-sulfur marine fuels T. Kokkola et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-026-01369-w
- Rapid Nighttime Darkening of Biomass Burning Brown Carbon by Nitrate Radicals Is Suppressed by Prior Daytime Photochemical Aging C. Liu-Kang et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.5c00003
- Optical Properties of Biomass Burning Aerosols from Simulated Wildfires and Prescribed Fires with Representative Fuel Beds from the Southeast United States Z. McQueen et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.4c00091
- Multiphase reaction of nitrate radicals with vanillic acid aerosols: kinetics and formation of light-absorbing particles L. Rivellini et al. https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EA00066A
- Airborne Measurements of Real-World Black Carbon Emissions from Ships W. Van Roy et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16070840
- Light absorbing carbon in atmospheric particulate matter in Lagos A. Odu-Onikosi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2025.102875
- Black Carbon: A Dual Threat to Climate and Public Health—Challenges, Impacts, and Mitigation Strategies T. Mansoor et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12647-026-00926-1
- Applicability of Compact Low- and Mid-Cost Sensors to Monitor Air Pollutant Emissions from Inland Ships P. Eger et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44408-026-00163-w
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Domestic solid fuel burning in London: Air pollution impacts at neighbourhood, street and city scales L. Mittal et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2026.122153
- The applicability and challenges of black carbon sensors in monitoring networks J. Elomaa et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-293-2025
- Multi-wavelength spectral attribution of equivalent black carbon in Medellín, Colombia (2010–2023): Disentangling fossil fuel and biomass burning using the MABI instrument D. Grajales-González et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2026.103203
- Quantitative uncertainty and post-processing for micro-aethalometers measuring black carbon T. Sipkens et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-3123-2026
- Applicability of aethalometers for monitoring diesel particulate matter concentrations and exposure in underground mines H. Koponen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaerosci.2023.106330
- Black carbon characterization and source apportionment over a semi-tourist site in the central Himalayan Region, India J. Kuniyal et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-025-01727-2
- Evaluation of mass measurement techniques for soot with different size distributions and OC ∕ TC contents B. Sagot et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-4-121-2026
- A demonstrative study of a novel approach for spectral based source apportionment of ambient aerosols C. Gombi et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04022-3
- Impact of residential cooking and heating on temporal changes of black carbon in rural India M. Chakraborty et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-18384-1
- Highly light-absorbing particle emissions from low-sulfur marine fuels T. Kokkola et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-026-01369-w
- Rapid Nighttime Darkening of Biomass Burning Brown Carbon by Nitrate Radicals Is Suppressed by Prior Daytime Photochemical Aging C. Liu-Kang et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.5c00003
- Optical Properties of Biomass Burning Aerosols from Simulated Wildfires and Prescribed Fires with Representative Fuel Beds from the Southeast United States Z. McQueen et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.4c00091
- Multiphase reaction of nitrate radicals with vanillic acid aerosols: kinetics and formation of light-absorbing particles L. Rivellini et al. https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EA00066A
- Airborne Measurements of Real-World Black Carbon Emissions from Ships W. Van Roy et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16070840
- Light absorbing carbon in atmospheric particulate matter in Lagos A. Odu-Onikosi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2025.102875
- Black Carbon: A Dual Threat to Climate and Public Health—Challenges, Impacts, and Mitigation Strategies T. Mansoor et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12647-026-00926-1
- Applicability of Compact Low- and Mid-Cost Sensors to Monitor Air Pollutant Emissions from Inland Ships P. Eger et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44408-026-00163-w
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 12 Oct 2026
Short summary
Black carbon (BC) has important climate and human health impacts. Aethalometers are used to measure BC, but they are hard to deploy in many environments (remote, mobile). We evaluate how well a portable micro-aethalometer (MA300) performs compared to a reference aethalometer at a road-side site in Vancouver, BC, Canada, during regular and wildfire conditions. We find that the MA300 can reproduce overall patterns in concentrations and source characterization but with some underestimation.
Black carbon (BC) has important climate and human health impacts. Aethalometers are used to...
