A method was developed to analyze different types of carbon in the particles found in the air. The researchers heated the filters the particles were collected on to measure the amount of organic, elemental, and carbonate carbon present. By heating the filters at specific temperatures and using different gases, they were able to accurately measure the different types of carbon. The researchers found that some of the organic carbon turned into elemental carbon during the analysis, so the values reported are estimates. They are also working on a new technique to better measure this conversion.