Characterization of the composition of dust fallout and identification of dust sources in arid and semiarid North China

摘要: Abstract A source analysis to characterize the composition of dust fallout in arid and semiarid North China, an important area for East Asia, was performed. Monthly samples were obtained from April 2001 March 2002 at 29 sites sandy gobi deserts, steppes, loess areas, following elements analyzed: Ce, Co, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, Lu, Nd, Rb, Sc, Ta, Tb, Th, As, La, Na, Sb, Sm, U, Yb, Al, Ca, Mg, Mn, Ti, V. Although compositions differed, it difficult determine potential areas based solely on elemental fingerprints dust. Principal components showed that most Th strongly correlated (r > 0.7) with other elements, whereas crustal such as Ti only a few sites. Of 26 we analyzed, maybe Sb representative anthropogenic pollution, but pollutant sources unclear because sites, different months, crustal-derived those derived pollutants always appeared synchronously, creating difficulties high uncertainties identification.