Atmospheric black carbon concentrations in Mexico

Atmospheric black carbon concentrations were measured at two urban sites (Mexico City and Monterrey), one suburban site (Juriquilla) and one high-altitude site (Altzomoni) in Mexico during 2015 and part of 2016. Black carbon concentrations were compared against other criteria gases finding a strong correlation with carbon monoxide at the urban sites. The carbon monoxide-black carbon correlation for the Mexico City site is 0.77. Urban sites had an average black carbon concentration of above 2.5 mu g m(-3), the suburban site 0.75 mu g m(-3), and the high-altitude site 0.27 mu g m(-3). Compared to other studies, the average levels are comparable, and the urban and suburban locations showed a trend towards increased atmospheric black carbon concentrations at year end. Other urban places (Guadalajara, Cuernavaca, and Iztapalapa) reported black carbon concentrations, but for less than a year. For the first time, a Latin-American country (Mexico) measured black carbon continuously at several sites for a year applying the same data quality assurance.