Multi-site comparison and source apportionment of equivalent Black Carbon mass concentrations (eBC) in the United States: Southern California Basin and Rochester, New York

Spatial and temporal variability of equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations were studied using Aethalometers (AE33 and AE21) at 10 sites, including 5 urban and 5 near-road across the south coast of California and New York-Rochester. Statistical methods were applied to perform intra-urban and multi-site comparisons. Given that nominal eBC values provided by the Aethalometer were significantly overestimated, eBC concentrations were corrected using an appropriate multiple-scattering enhancement correction factor (C₀) to accurately calculate light absorption. Annual and seasonal variations highlighted the significant contributions of traffic emissions to eBC mass concentrations at all sites. Source apportionment using the Aethalometer approach demonstrated that fuel combustion—primarily from gasoline and diesel vehicles— accounted for up to 80% of eBC. Emission sources were found to be largely region specific. Our findings suggest that the implementation of restrictive regulations aimed at reducing gasoline and diesel vehicle emissions, such as California's Tier 3 (SULEV, 2015) and New York (2017), has led to a higher proportion of cleaner, emission-controlled vehicles in the South Coast Air Basin compared to Rochester. However, the effects of these measures may require more time to be fully observed in traffic-polluted areas across the US.