Inorganic markers, carbonaceous components and stable carbon isotope from biomass burning aerosols in Northeast China

To better characterize the chemical compositions and sources of fine particulate matter (i.e. PM2.5) in Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China, total carbon (TC), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), and inorganic ions as well as stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) were measured in this study. Intensively open biomass burning episodes are identified from late September to early October by satellite fire and aerosol optical depth maps. During the biomass-burning episode, concentrations of PM2.5, OC, EC, and WSOC are increased by a factor of 4–12 compared to those during the non-biomass-burning period. Non-sea-salt potassium is strongly correlated with PM2.5, OC, EC and WSOC, demonstrating an important contribution from biomass-burning emissions. The enrichment in both the non-sea-salt potassium and chlorine is significantly larger than other inorganic species, suggesting that biomass-burning aerosols in Sanjiang Plain are mostly fresh and less aged. In addition, the WSOC-to-OC ratio is lower than that reported in biomass-burning aerosols in tropical regions, further supporting that biomass-burning aerosols in Sanjiang Plain are mostly primary and secondary organic aerosols may be not significant. A lower average δ13C value (−26.2‰) is observed during the biomass-burning period, indicating a dominant contribution from combustion of C3 plants in the studied region. [Display omitted] •Open biomass burning episodes are identified in Sanjiang Plain, NE China.•K+ and PM2.5 are increased significantly during the biomass burning periods.•The biomass burning aerosols are mostly fresh emitted and less-aged.•A lower average δ13C value (−26.2‰) is found for the biomass-burning aerosols.•Biomass-burning aerosols in Sanjiang are mainly from the combustion of C3 plants.