Electrical characterization of circulation weather types in Northern Spain based on atmospheric nanoparticles measurements: A pilot study

Abstract

The electrical component of the atmosphere is a key element to understand bio-effects of atmospheric processes. In this paper an attempt was made to find possible interactions between air masses arriving in Santander, Northern Spain, and electrical properties of nanoparticles measured in this zone. A methodological approach is proposed to characterize electrically the predominant weather types in the study area. An electrical low pressure impactor device (ELPI®+) was used to measure atmospheric particles net charge and particle net charge distribution in real time in July 2018, among other parameters. Data from two specific channels [0.054–0.071 μm] and [2.5–3.0 μm] has been initially used. Atmospheric circulation was defined attending to two, subjective and objective, weather type classifications. Back trajectories of nanoparticles were also computed by the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model. Results confirm that atmospheric nanoparticles charge varies according to their size. The highest mean absolute charge is associated with local circulation in Santander for both channels. The studied nanoparticles show a quicker reaction to weather conditions than microparticles. They also have a significant correlation with meteorological variables for 18 synoptic groups found, but humidity. Microparticles [2.5–3.0 μm] are negatively related with air humidity, mainly with S-SE circulation pattern.