Composition and mixing state of the urban background aerosol in the Rhein-Main area (Germany)

Abstract Size-resolved aerosol particle samples in the size range 0.1–10 μm aerodynamic diameter were collected in the years 2003 and 2004 at an urban background station in Mainz, Germany. Size, morphology, chemical composition and mixing state of more than 5400 individual particles of 7 selected sampling days were analyzed in detail by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. In addition, transmission electron microscopy, aerosol mass spectrometry and atomic force microscopy were applied to obtain detailed information about the mixing state of the particles. The fine particle fraction (diameter 1 μm diameter) is strongly dependant on air mass history with var…