scholarly journals Joint analysis of continental and regional background environments in the western Mediterranean: PM<sub>1</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> concentrations and composition

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 1129-1145 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ripoll ◽  
M. C. Minguillón ◽  
J. Pey ◽  
N. Pérez ◽  
X. Querol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Background Site ◽  
Regional Background ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
Dust Resuspension

Abstract. The complete chemical composition of atmospheric particulate matter (PM1 and PM10) from a continental (Montsec, MSC, 1570 m a.s.l.) and a regional (Montseny, MSY, 720 m a.s.l) background site in the western Mediterranean Basin (WMB) were jointly studied for the first time over a relatively long-term period (January 2010–March 2013). Differences in average PMX concentration and composition between both sites were attributed to distance to anthropogenic sources, altitude, and different influence of atmospheric episodes. All these factors result in a continental-to-regional background increase of 4.0 μg m−3 for PM10 and 1.1 μg m−3 for PM1 in the WMB. This increase is mainly constituted by organic matter, sulfate, nitrate, and sea salt. However, higher mineral matter concentrations were measured at the continental background site owing to the higher influence of long-range transport of dust and dust resuspension. Seasonal variations of aerosol chemical components were attributed to evolution of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) height throughout the year, variations in the air mass origin, and differences in meteorology. During warmer months, weak pressure gradients and elevated insolation generate recirculation of air masses and enhance the development of the PBL, causing the aging of aerosols and incrementing pollutant concentrations over a large area in the WMB, including the continental background. This is reflected in a more similar relative composition and absolute concentrations of continental and regional background aerosols. Nevertheless, during colder months the thermal inversions and the lower vertical development of the PBL leave MSC in the free troposphere most of the time, whereas MSY is more influenced by regional pollutants accumulated under winter anticyclonic conditions. This results in much lower concentrations of PMX components at the continental background site with respect to those at the regional background site. The influence of certain atmospheric episodes caused different impacts at regional and continental scales. When long-range transport from central and eastern Europe and from north Africa occurs, the continental background site is frequently more influenced, thus indicating a preferential transport of pollutants at high altitude layers. Conversely, the regional background site was more influenced by regional processes. Continental and regional aerosol chemical composition from the WMB revealed (a) high relevance of African dust transport and regional dust resuspension; (b) low biomass burning contribution; (c) high organic matter contribution; (d) low summer nitrate concentrations; and (e) high aerosol homogenization in summer.

scholarly journals A one-year comprehensive chemical characterisation of fine aerosol (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) at urban, suburban and rural background sites in the region of Paris (France)

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 29391-29442 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bressi ◽  
J. Sciare ◽  
V. Ghersi ◽  
N. Bonnaire ◽  
J. B. Nicolas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Sea Salt ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Inorganic Species ◽  
Fine Aerosol ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
One Year

Abstract. Studies describing the chemical composition of fine aerosol (PM2.5) in urban areas are often conducted during few weeks only, and at one sole site, giving thus a narrow view of their temporal and spatial characteristics. This paper presents a one-year (11 September 2009–10 September 2010) survey of the daily chemical composition of PM2.5 in the region of Paris, which is the second most populated "Larger Urban Zone" in Europe. Five sampling sites representative of suburban (SUB), urban (URB), northeast (NER), northwest (NWR) and south (SOR) rural backgrounds were implemented. The major chemical components of PM2.5 were determined including elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), and the major ions. OC was converted to organic matter (OM) using the chemical mass closure methodology, which leads to conversion factors of 1.95 for the SUB and URB sites, and 2.05 for the three rural ones. On average, gravimetrically determined PM2.5 annual mass concentrations are 15.2, 14.8, 12.6, 11.7 and 10.8 μg m−3 for SUB, URB, NER, NWR and SOR sites, respectively. The chemical composition of fine aerosol is very homogeneous at the five sites and is composed of OM (38–47%), nitrate (17–22%), non-sea-salt sulfate (13–16%), ammonium (10–12%), EC (4–10%), mineral dust (2–5%) and sea salt (3–4%). This chemical composition is in agreement with those reported in the literature for most European environments. On the annual scale, Paris (URB and SUB sites) exhibits its highest PM2.5 concentrations during late autumn, winter and early spring (higher than 15 μg m−3 on average, from December to April), intermediates during late spring and early autumn (between 10 and 15 μg m−3 during May, June, September, October, and November) and the lowest during summer (below 10 μg m−3 during July and August). PM levels are mostly homogeneous at the regional scale, on the whole duration of the project (e.g. for URB plotted against NER sites: slope = 1.06, r2 = 0.84, n = 330), suggesting the importance of mid- or long-range transport, and regional instead of local scale phenomena. During this one-year project, two third of the days exceeding the PM2.5 2015 EU annual limit value of 25 μg m−3 were due to continental import from countries located northeast, east of France. This result questions the efficiency of local, regional and even national abatement strategies during pollution episodes, pointing the need for a wider collaborative work with the neighbourhood countries on these topics. Nevertheless, emissions of local anthropogenic sources lead to higher levels at the URB and SUB sites compared to the others (e.g. 26% higher on average at the URB than at the NWR site for PM2.5, during the whole campaign), which can even be emphasised by specific meteorological conditions such as low boundary layer heights. OM and secondary inorganic species (nitrate, non-sea-salt sulfate and ammonium, noted SIA) are mainly imported by mid- or long-range transport (e.g. for NWR plotted against URB sites: slope = 0.79, r2 = 0.72, n = 335 for OM, and slope = 0.91, r2 = 0.89, n = 335 for SIA) whereas EC is primarily locally emitted (e.g. for SOR plotted against URB sites: slope = 0.27; r2 = 0.03; n = 335). This database will serve deepest investigations of carbonaceous aerosols, metals as well as the main sources and geographical origins of PM in the region of Paris.

scholarly journals A one-year comprehensive chemical characterisation of fine aerosol (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) at urban, suburban and rural background sites in the region of Paris (France)

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 7825-7844 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bressi ◽  
J. Sciare ◽  
V. Ghersi ◽  
N. Bonnaire ◽  
J. B. Nicolas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Sea Salt ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Inorganic Species ◽  
Fine Aerosol ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
One Year

Abstract. Studies describing the chemical composition of fine aerosol (PM2.5) in urban areas are often conducted for a few weeks only and at one sole site, giving thus a narrow view of their temporal and spatial characteristics. This paper presents a one-year (11 September 2009–10 September 2010) survey of the daily chemical composition of PM2.5 in the region of Paris, which is the second most populated "Larger Urban Zone" in Europe. Five sampling sites representative of suburban (SUB), urban (URB), northeast (NER), northwest (NWR) and south (SOR) rural backgrounds were implemented. The major chemical components of PM2.5 were determined including elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), and the major ions. OC was converted to organic matter (OM) using the chemical mass closure methodology, which leads to conversion factors of 1.95 for the SUB and URB sites, and 2.05 for the three rural ones. On average, gravimetrically determined PM2.5 annual mass concentrations are 15.2, 14.8, 12.6, 11.7 and 10.8 μg m−3 for SUB, URB, NER, NWR and SOR sites, respectively. The chemical composition of fine aerosol is very homogeneous at the five sites and is composed of OM (38–47%), nitrate (17–22%), non-sea-salt sulfate (13–16%), ammonium (10–12%), EC (4–10%), mineral dust (2–5%) and sea salt (3–4%). This chemical composition is in agreement with those reported in the literature for most European environments. On an annual scale, Paris (URB and SUB sites) exhibits its highest PM2.5 concentrations during late autumn, winter and early spring (higher than 15 μg m−3 on average, from December to April), intermediates during late spring and early autumn (between 10 and 15 μg m−3 during May, June, September, October, and November) and the lowest during summer (below 10 μg m−3 during July and August). PM levels are mostly homogeneous on a regional scale, during the whole project (e.g. for URB plotted against NER sites: slope = 1.06, r2=0.84, n=330), suggesting the importance of mid- or long-range transport, and regional instead of local scale phenomena. During this one-year project, two thirds of the days exceeding the PM2.5 2015 EU annual limit value of 25 μg m−3 were due to continental import from countries located northeast, east of France. This result questions the efficiency of local, regional and even national abatement strategies during pollution episodes, pointing to the need for a wider collaborative work with the neighbouring countries on these topics. Nevertheless, emissions of local anthropogenic sources lead to higher levels at the URB and SUB sites compared to the others (e.g. 26% higher on average at the URB than at the NWR site for PM2.5, during the whole campaign), which can even be emphasised by specific meteorological conditions such as low boundary layer heights. OM and secondary inorganic species (nitrate, non-sea-salt sulfate and ammonium, noted SIA) are mainly imported by mid- or long-range transport (e.g. for NWR plotted against URB sites: slope = 0.79, r2=0.72, n=335 for OM, and slope = 0.91, r2=0.89, n=335 for SIA) whereas EC is primarily locally emitted (e.g. for SOR plotted against URB sites: slope = 0.27; r2=0.03; n=335). This database will serve as a basis for investigating carbonaceous aerosols, metals as well as the main sources and geographical origins of PM in the region of Paris.

scholarly journals Long range transport and mixing of aerosol sources during the 2013 North American biomass burning episode: analysis of multiple lidar observations in the Western Mediterranean basin

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (22) ◽  
pp. 32323-32365 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ancellet ◽  
J. Pelon ◽  
J. Totems ◽  
P. Chazette ◽  
A. Bazureau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Long Range ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
North American ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Trade Wind ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
Aerosol Sources ◽  
Aerosol Source

Abstract. Long range transport of biomass burning (BB) aerosols between North America and the Mediterranean region took place in June 2013. A large number of ground based and airborne lidar measurements were deployed in the Western Mediterranean during the Chemistry-AeRosol Mediterranean EXperiment (ChArMEx) intensive observation period. A detailed analysis of the potential North American aerosol sources is conducted including the assessment of their transport to Europe using forward simulations of the FLEXPART Lagrangian particle dispersion model initialized using satellite observations by MODIS and CALIOP. The three dimensional structure of the aerosol distribution in the ChArMEx domain observed by the ground-based lidars (Menorca, Barcelona and Lampedusa), a Falcon-20 aircraft flight and three CALIOP tracks, agree very well with the model simulation of the three major sources considered in this work: Canadian and Colorado fires, a dust storm from Western US and the contribution of Saharan dust streamers advected from the North Atlantic trade wind region into the Westerlies region. Four aerosol types were identified using the optical properties of the observed aerosol layers (aerosol depolarization ratio, lidar ratio) and the transport model analysis of the contribution of each aerosol source: (I) pure BB layer, (II) weakly dusty BB, (III) significant mixture of BB and dust transported from the trade wind region (IV) the outflow of Saharan dust by the subtropical jet and not mixed with BB aerosol. The contribution of the Canadian fires is the major aerosol source during this episode while mixing of dust and BB is only significant at altitude above 5 km. The mixing corresponds to a 20–30 % dust contribution in the total aerosol backscatter. The comparison with the MODIS AOD horizontal distribution during this episode over the Western Mediterranean sea shows that the Canadian fires contribution were as large as the direct northward dust outflow from Sahara.

Chemical composition of eastern Mediterranean aerosol and precipitation: Indications of long-range transport

1997 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. F. Al-Momani ◽  
G. Güllü ◽  
I. Ölmez ◽  
Ü. Eler ◽  
E. Örtel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Range Transport

scholarly journals Sources of organic carbon in fine particulate matter in northern European urban air

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (20) ◽  
pp. 6281-6295 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Saarikoski ◽  
H. Timonen ◽  
K. Saarnio ◽  
M. Aurela ◽  
L. Järvi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Diurnal Variation ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Major Ions ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Biomass Combustion ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Northern European ◽  
Range Transport

Abstract. A major fraction of fine particle matter consists of organic carbon (OC) but its origin is still inadequately known. In this study the sources of OC were investigated in the northern European urban environment in Helsinki, Finland. Measurements were carried out over one year and they included both filter (PM1) and online methods. From the filter samples OC, elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble OC (WSOC), levoglucosan and major ions were analyzed. Filter data together with the concentrations of inorganic gases were analyzed by Positive matrix factorization (PMF) in order to find the sources of OC (and WSOC) on an annual as well as on a seasonal basis. In order to study the diurnal variation of sources, OC and EC were measured by a semicontinuous OC/EC analyzer and major ions were determined by a Particle-into-Liquid Sampler coupled to ion chromatographs. According to PMF, OC concentrations were impacted by four sources: biomass combustion, traffic, long-range transport and secondary production. On an annual basis the OC concentration was dominated by secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Its contribution to OC was as high as 64% in summer, which besides anthropogenic sources may also result from the large biogenic volatile organic carbon (VOC) emissions in the boreal region. In winter biomass combustion constituted the largest fraction in OC due to domestic wood combustion for heating purposes. Traffic contributed to OC from 15 to 27%. Regarding the diurnal variation, the contribution from traffic was higher from 08:00 to 18:00 on weekdays than on weekends. The contribution from long-range transport to OC was 24% on average. All four sources also influenced the WSOC concentrations, however, the contribution of SOA was significantly larger for WSOC than OC.

Metal contamination of natural surface soils from long-range atmospheric transport: Existing and missing knowledge

2006 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiliv Steinnes ◽  
Andrew J Friedland
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Surface Soils ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
Zinc Cadmium ◽  
Lead Zinc ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

This review focuses on the long-range atmospheric transport of metals to organic-rich surface soils (mostly 50–90% organic matter) in the temperate, coniferous, and boreal zones of North America and Europe. From various air-pollution related measurements (air, precipitation, moss, peat cores) Pb and Zn are known to be transported long distances in the air in large amounts. Arsenic, Cd, Hg, Sb, and Se are also typical representatives of long-range transported air masses, and there is evidence that Ag, Bi, In, Mo, Tl, and W belong to this group of elements. Through the use of “environmental archives” such as ice and peat cores it has become evident that long-range transport of pollutants and associated contamination of natural surfaces is not just a recent phenomenon. There is compelling evidence for widespread enrichment of surface soil horizons in Pb from long-range transport, and many studies support enrichment of Zn. Mercury is also generally elevated by anthropogenic emissions over natural levels in organic-rich surface soils, whereas results for Cd are less conclusive. There is evidence that As, Se, Ag, Mo, In, Sb, W, Tl, and Bi all are subject to some enrichment in organic-rich surface soils from long-range atmospheric transport, but studies are still few for most of these elements. With the exception of Pb, little is known about residence times of the elements in the organic-rich surface horizon, and more research is needed on this topic. Further studies are desirable on the temporal and spatial trends in supply of the above elements, which are poorly known in large parts of the northern temperate zone.Key words: natural soils, metals, long-range atmospheric transport, organic matter, lead, zinc, cadmium, mercury.

scholarly journals Long-term measurements of carbonaceous aerosols in the Eastern Mediterranean: evidence of long-range transport of biomass burning

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (18) ◽  
pp. 5551-5563 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Sciare ◽  
K. Oikonomou ◽  
O. Favez ◽  
E. Liakakou ◽  
Z. Markaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Crete Island ◽  
Yearly Average ◽  
Range Transport

Abstract. Long-term (5-year) measurements of Elemental Carbon (EC) and Organic Carbon (OC) in bulk aerosols are presented here for the first time in the Mediterranean Basin (Crete Island). A multi-analytical approach (including thermal, optical, and thermo-optical techniques) was applied for these EC and OC measurements. Light absorbing dust aerosols were shown to poorly contribute (+12% on a yearly average) to light absorption coefficient (babs) measurements performed by an optical method (aethalometer). Long-range transport of agricultural waste burning from European countries surrounding the Black Sea was shown for each year during two periods (March–April and July–September). The contribution of biomass burning to the concentrations of EC and OC was shown to be rather small (20 and 14%, respectively, on a yearly basis), although this contribution could be much higher on a monthly basis and showed important seasonal and interannual variability. By removing the biomass burning influence, our data revealed an important seasonal variation of OC, with an increase by almost a factor of two for the spring months of May and June, whereas BC was found to be quite stable throughout the year. Preliminary measurements of Water Soluble Organic Carbon (WSOC) have shown that the monthly mean WSOC/OC ratio remains stable throughout the year (0.45±0.12), suggesting that the partitioning between water soluble and water insoluble organic matter is not significantly affected by biomass burning and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. A chemical mass closure performed in the fine mode (Aerodynamic Diameter, A.D.<1.5μm) showed that the mass contribution of organic matter (POM) was found to be essentially invariable during the year (monthly average of 26±5%).

scholarly journals Aerosol distribution in the northern Gulf of Guinea: local anthropogenic sources, long-range transport and the role of coastal shallow circulations

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyrille Flamant ◽  
Adrien Deroubaix ◽  
Patrick Chazette ◽  
Joel Brito ◽  
Marco Gaetani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Atmospheric Pollutants ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Aerosol Distribution ◽  
Range Transport

Abstract. The complex vertical distribution of aerosols over coastal southern West Africa (SWA) is investigated using airborne observations and numerical simulations. Observations were gathered on 2 July 2016 offshore of Ghana and Togo, during the field phase of the Dynamics-Aerosol-Chemistry-Cloud Interactions in West Africa project. The aerosol loading in the lower troposphere includes emissions from coastal cities (Accra, Lomé, Cotonou and Lagos) as well as biomass burning aerosol and dust associated with long-range transport from Central Africa and the Sahara, respectively. Our results indicate that the aerosol distribution is impacted by subsidence associated with zonal and meridional regional scale overturning circulations associated with the land-sea surface temperature contrast and orography over Ghana and Togo. Numerical tracer release experiments highlight the dominance of aged emissions from Accra on the observed pollution plume loadings over the ocean. The contribution of aged emission from Lomé and Cotonou is also evident above the marine boundary layer. Lagos emissions do not play a role for the area west of Cotonou. The tracer plume does not extend very far south over the ocean (i.e. less than 100 km from Accra), mostly because emissions are transported northeastward near the surface over land and westward above the marine atmospheric boundary layer. The latter is possible due to interactions between the monsoon flow, complex terrain and land-sea breeze systems, which support the vertical mixing of the urban pollution. This work sheds light on the complex – and to date undocumented – mechanisms by which coastal shallow circulations distribute atmospheric pollutants over the densely populated SWA region.

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