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Preferred term

TEOM  

Definition

  • In the Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM), the air is sucked in through the sampling head which restricts the size of the particle entering the device (for instance a PM10 sampling head will only allow particles with a diameter less than or equal to 10 micro-meters). Some of the air then passes through the filter within the tapered element oscillating microbalance and as the number of particles deposited increases the natural frequency of the vibration of the element decreases. There is therefore a direct relationship between the change in the vibrating frequency and the mass on the filter. The TEOM measures the mass of the particles and allows 15-minute average readings, which is very useful for tracking pollution incidents as it allows real time analysis. However, it tends to under-read the particle levels monitored compared with the Partisol Plus Unit as it is heated to prevent water entering the device, and therefore many of the volatile particles are evaporated. [Summary provided by The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea] (en)

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https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/kms/concept/5443ac3e-5066-4a89-a973-93b345c91947

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