Year-round observations of bulk components and 13C and 15N isotope ratios of fine aerosols at Tianjin, North China – Data set

To better understand the characteristics and sources of atmospheric aerosols in the Tianjin region, North China, we studied inorganic ions, carbonaceous and nitrogenous components and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of total carbon (d¹³C_TC) and nitrogen (d¹⁵C_TN) in fine aerosols (PM_2.5) collected at an urban (Nankai District, ND; n = 121) and a suburban (Haihe Education Park, HEP; n = 40) sites in Tianjin from 5 July 2018 to 4 July 2019. Inorganic ions were measured using ion chromatography (ICS-5000 System, China, Dai An). Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were measured using OC/EC analyzer (USA, Sunset Laboratory Inc.), based on thermal light reflectance following the IMPROVE protocol of the protective visual environment. Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) was measured using the total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer (model: OI, 1030W + 1088). Water-soluble total nitrogen (WSTN) was determined using a continuous flow analyzer (CFA, Skalar, the Netherlands, San++), following the standard procedure. δ¹³C_TC and δ¹⁵N_TN were determined using the elemental analyzer (EA, Flash 2000HT) coupled with stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IrMS, 253 Plus). Based on seasonal variations in their compositions, d¹³C_TC, d¹⁵C_TN and linear relations among the selected components together with meteorological parameters and the backward air mass trajectories, we found that the atmospheric aerosols were mainly derived from anthropogenic activities such as fossil fuel including coal combustion and biomass burning and biological/marine emissions and subsequent secondary process in Tianjin, North China.