Presentation from EPA Transboundary Research Workshop, Galway, 8th and 9th September 2010.

1. Analysis of Black Carbon Data for Ireland Michael Geever, NUI, Galway

2. What is Black Carbon? Light-absorbing carbonaceous particle produced by incomplete combustion of various fuels Light-absorbing subset of particulate matter Soot Elemental Carbon Refractive Carbon Black Carbon Brown Carbon

3. Measurements Range over orders of magnitude Measurements difficult Few instruments good over whole range – usually tuned to particular range: urban or background Techniques differ – can give different results Calibration difficult Instrument artefacts complicate analysis and comparison Good qualitative measurement

4. Aethalometer – Malin Head

5. Aethalometer

6. Mace Head Malin Head monthly averages

7. YEAR 2002: % BC below 75 ngm-3 for whole year 59%

9. YEAR 2003: % BC below 75 ngm-3 for whole year 62%

11. YEAR 2005 : BLACK CARBON FREQUENCY BELOW 50 NG M-3 Average year: 53% of times BC is below 50ng/m3

12. 2005

13. YEAR 2006 : BLACK CARBON FREQUENCY BELOW 50 NG M-3 During August 85% of the time BC is below 50ng m-3, 50% below 15ng/m3!

14. 2006

15. YEAR 2007 : BLACK CARBON FREQUENCY BELOW 50 NG M-3 (no october for 2007) January really cleaned, again August the cleanest of summer months (75% cleaner than 30ng m-3 for August)

16. 2007

17. Average frequency of occurrence

18. Average Frequency by month