Abstract
From February 2011 to September 2012, PM_1 samples were collected at the regional background station of Mt. Aitana, located near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula at 1558 m a.s.l. Samples were subsequently analyzed to determine the major chemical composition (elemental and organic carbon, secondary inorganic ions and oxalate). The seasonal patterns of the concentrations of PM_1 and its main components and the influence of long-range transport of dust from the Sahara desert were studied in this work. PM_1 was mainly composed of organic matter and ammonium sulfate, while EC and nitrate were minor components. Concentrations ranged from 3.4 μg m^(-3) in winter to 5.8 μg m^(-3) during summer. This seasonal cycle is typical of high mountain sites, which are generally above the planetary boundary layer during winter time. All the analyzed components exhibited the same seasonal pattern except nitrate, which showed minimum values in summer. This is most likely the result of the decomposition of NH_4NO_3 favored by the higher summer temperatures. Due to the close proximity to the African continent, PM_1 levels significantly increased during Saharan dust intrusions. The concentrations of sulfate were 35% higher during dust events since the formation of secondary ammonium sulfate is favored by heterogeneous reactions on the surface of mineral particles.
Highlights
The effects of atmospheric aerosols on human health, climate, ecosystems, visibility, and building materials are well-established (Horemans et al, 2011; Solomon et al, 2012; IPCC, 2013; Liu et al, 2014; Eliseev, 2015)
These data can represent the chemical composition of western Mediterranean aerosols either in Galindo et al, Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 16: 530–541, 2016 the upper part of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) or in the lower part of the free troposphere, depending on meteorological conditions
The concentrations of PM1 measured at a high mountain location in southeastern Spain were similar to the values reported for other Spanish regional background stations (~5 μg m–3) but lower than those found in elevated sites within the Po Valley, in Italy, one of the most polluted areas in Europe
Summary
The effects of atmospheric aerosols on human health, climate, ecosystems, visibility, and building materials are well-established (Horemans et al, 2011; Solomon et al, 2012; IPCC, 2013; Liu et al, 2014; Eliseev, 2015). The size and composition of particles depends on the multiplicity of emission sources, both natural and anthropogenic, the physical and chemical processes that lead to their formation, and the atmospheric transport and dispersion conditions. Since all these factors vary substantially with time and space, the complex scientific knowledge behind all these processes still contains many gaps. The study on aerosol chemical speciation at regional background sites in the western Mediterranean is limited to the works by Ripoll et al (2015a, b) at the Montsec station, located 140 km from the city of Barcelona. These data can represent the chemical composition of western Mediterranean aerosols either in Galindo et al, Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 16: 530–541, 2016 the upper part of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) or in the lower part of the free troposphere, depending on meteorological conditions
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