Characterization of individual particles in the North Sea surface microlayer and underlying seawater: comparison with atmospheric particles
Xhoffer, C.; Wouters, G.; Van Grieken, R. (1992). Characterization of individual particles in the North Sea surface microlayer and underlying seawater: comparison with atmospheric particles. Environ. Sci. Technol. 26(11): 2151-2162
In: Environmental Science and Technology. American Chemical Society: Easton. ISSN 0013-936X; e-ISSN 1520-5851, more
Five pairs of North Sea bulk waters and their corresponding surface microlayer samples were investigated for their particulate matter content and chemically analyzed and characterized by electron probe X-ray microanalysis and laser microprobe mass analysis. Multivariate techniques as hierarchical and nonhierarchical clustering in association with principal component analysis was performed on a data set containing more than 3,000 individual particles. This classification procedure yielded eight different particle types. Differences in particle type abundances for the microlayer and bulk water were observed. They were apportioned to their most probable sources. The results were compared with atmospheric and riverine particle data. The domination of the major particle groups (aluminosilicates, Ca-rich aluminosilicates, CaCO3, silicates, and organic particulate matter) suppresses the relative abundances of the metal-rich particles (Fe-rich, Ti-rich, and others). A conditioned classification was performed using selection criteria derived from riverine suspensions and atmospheric particulate North Sea data. Similar particle abundances were observed for both the multivariate and the conditional particle classification procedures.
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