We

have already men-oned that par-cles are the most

visible component of Los Angeles smog. In the following
we will look at some of the proper-es of these par-cles.
Par-cles have dierent sources. They can be directly
emiAed, for example by diesel engines, smoke stacks,
cooking. Par-cles are also formed chemically through
reac-on that convert certain hydrocarbons into gases
that condense onto par-cles. This chemistry is closely
related so that ozone and par-cles oEen have their
highest levels together.

We have seen this gure before. It shows the sizes of

dierent par-cles in the atmosphere.
One way we measure the amount of par-cles is by
expressing their weight in a volume of air, for example
micro-gram per cubic meter.
If we consider all par-cles size this is oEen called total
suspended maAer.

We also have to consider their size to assess their
health eect. As we have learned before only par-cles
smaller than 2.5 um enter our lung and are thus
dangerous. We therefore previously dened the mass
concentra-on of par-cles smaller than 2.5 um as
PM2.5. It has the same unit as total suspended maAer.

Lets rst have a look where directly emiAed PM2.5

originates, expressed as tons per day and the
percentage contribu-on. We see here that area sources
dominate this list. This includes mostly dust that is liEed
into the atmosphere. Because of this construc-on sites
in Los Angeles have to water the ground to avoid dust
emissions. If you ever see a site with a big dust cloud,
you can call the Air Quality Management District and
le a complaint. They will then inves-gate and make
sure the construc-on sites water the soil.

As with the other pollutants the emissions of dust have
decreased in the past 15 years, and will remain fairly
at for the next 20 years

The spa-al distribu-on of Total Suspended MaAer is

quite similar to that of ozone, with highest levels on the
east side of Los Angeles. This is mostly due the
secondary forma-on of par-cles as the polluted air
from Los Angeles is chemically processed as it travels to
Riverside and San Bernardino county.

The PM2.5 levels, shown here as the maximum annual
average, have steadily decreased over the years. An the
Los Angeles Basin is very close to be within the federal
air quality standard regarding PM2.5 pollu-on.

As we men-oned earlier par-cles lead to a degrada-on

of visibility. You can see this in this picture of Los
Angeles. If you look carefully you will recognize that the
presence of the par-cles makes the picture brighter,
but on the other hand it reduces the contrast, so that
you cannot dis-nguish certain parts of the city.

This observa-ons has been used for many years to
dene the visibility. Meteorologist dene visibility
through a length at which one can barely dis-nguish a
black target on a white surface. This is shown here. In
the example on the top we see the clear contrast
between a black circle and the white background. In the
presence of par-cles the circle will appear gray and if
there are too many par-cles it will all look bright.
Airports have. for many years, used this by placing
targets at known distances from the tower, thus
allowing the folks in the tower to determine what the
visibility length is.

So how does the visibility reduc-on due to par-cles

work. In this sketch we see a black target in a distance
and an observer on the right. We also see a sun, which
is important as this eect is most pronounced during
the day.
Without par-cles between the target and the observer
we can see the contrast between black an white. What
we really see it that the white part of the target reects
the sunlight, making it white, while the circle does not
reect any light, thus making it appear black. So, no
light comes from the circle to the observer.
Par-cles between the observed and the black circle
scaAer sunlight towards the observer. So they act like
liAle sources of light in front of the black circle. This
then makes the circle appear less black. If you add more
par-cles there will be more light scaAered to the
observed, making the circle look less black. So the more
par-cles are present the more white circle will look un-l
there is no contrast between the circle and background.

Visibility, or more precisely visibility length, is closely

related to total suspended maAer. This can be
approximated by the following equa-ons. The visibility
length in kilometers is approximately equal to 1000
divided by total suspended maAer in micrograms per
cubic meter. Or, switching things around, total
suspended maAer in micrograms per cubic meter is
approximately equal to 1000 divided by visibility length
in kilometers.

For example for a totals suspended maAer
concentra-on of 100 micrograms per cubic meter the
visibility length is approximately 10km, or 7miles. This is
not enough to see the mountains from UCLA or
downtown Los Angeles.