Abstract

This paper concerns an in-depth analysis of an exceptional incursion of mineral dust over Southern Europe in late March 2020. This event was associated with an anomalous circulation pattern leading to several days of PM10 exceedances in connection with a dust source located in Central Asia a rare source of dust for Europe, more frequently affected by dust outbreaks from the Sahara desert. The synoptic meteorological configuration was analyzed in detail, while aerosol evolution during the transit of the dust cloud over Northern Italy was assessed at high time resolution by means of optical particle counting at three stations, namely Bologna, Trieste, and Mt. Cimone allowing to reveal transport timing among the three locations. Back-trajectory analyses supported by AOD (Aerosol Optical Depth) maps allowed to locate the mineral dust source area in the Aralkum region. The event was therefore analyzed through the observation of particle number size distribution with the support of chemical composition analysis. It is shown that PM10 exceedance recorded is associated with a large fraction of coarse particles in agreement with mineral dust properties. Both in-situ number size distribution and vertical distribution of the dust plume were cross-checked by Lidar Ceilometer and AOD data from two nearby stations, showing that the dust plume, differently from those originated in the Sahara desert, traveled close to the ground up to a height of about 2 km. The limited mixing layer height caused by high concentrations of absorbing and scattering aerosols caused the mixing of mineral dust with other locally-produced ambient aerosols, thereby potentially increasing its morbidity effects.

Highlights

  • Mineral dust originating in desert regions is one of the main components of the ambient aerosol affecting air quality and human health, cloud formation, ocean ecosystems, and climate (Knippertz and Stuut, 2014; Schepanski, 2018)

  • This event was associated with an anomalous circulation pattern 20 leading to several days of PM10 exceedances in connection with a dust source located in Central Asia a rare source of dust for Europe, more frequently affected by dust outbreaks from the Sahara desert

  • Both in-situ number size distribution and vertical distribution of the dust plume were cross30 checked by Lidar Ceilometer and Aerosol optical depth (AOD) data from two nearby stations, showing that the dust plume, differently from those originated in the Sahara desert, traveled close to the ground up to a height of about 2 km

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Summary

Introduction

Mineral dust originating in desert regions is one of the main components of the ambient aerosol affecting air quality and human health, cloud formation, ocean ecosystems, and climate (Knippertz and Stuut, 2014; Schepanski, 2018). Numerous studies documented the health effects of mineral dust transport in various parts of the 45 world (Domínguez-Rodríguez et al, 2021; Fubini and Fenoglio, 2007; Keil et al, 2016; Sajani et al, 2011; Stafoggia et al, 2016), owing to the conjunct impact of mineralogy, allergens, and pathogens (García-Pando et al, 2014). For these reasons, it is essential to study mineral dust composition in connection with its atmospheric path, source region, physicochemical properties, and modifications associated with environmental, climatic, and health issues

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