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4-hours resolution data to study PM10 in a “hot spot” area in Europe

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Abstract

Nowadays, high-time resolved aerosol studies are mandatory to better understand atmospheric processes, such as formation, removal, transport, deposition or chemical reactions. This work focuses on PM10 physical and chemical characterisation with high-time resolution: elements (from Na to Pb), ions and OC/EC fractions concentration were determined during two weeks in summer and two in winter 2006 with 4-hours resolution. Further measurements aimed at hourly elemental characterisation of fine and coarse fractions and at the determination of particles number concentration in the 0.25–32 μm size range in 31 bins. The chemical mass closure was carried out in both seasons, enhancing intra-day differences in PM10 composition. In Milan, the highest contribution came from organic matter (34% and 33% in summer and winter, respectively); other important contributors were secondary inorganic compounds (16% and 24% in summer and winter, respectively) and, in summer, crustal matter (14%). Temporal trends showed strong variations in PM10 composition during contiguous time-slots and diurnal variations in different components contribution were identified. Moreover, peculiar phenomena, which would have hardly been detected with 24-hours samplings, were evidenced. Particles removal due to precipitations, aerosol local production and long range transport were studied in detail.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Applied General Physics, University of Milan, and INFN-Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Roberta Vecchi, Vera Bernardoni & Gianluigi Valli

  2. Department of Inorganic, Metallorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Paola Fermo & Andrea Piazzalunga

  3. Department of Physics, University of Florence, and INFN-Florence, 50019, Florence, Italy

    Franco Lucarelli

  4. Sesto Fiorentino, National Inst. of Nuclear Physics-Florence, 50019, Florence, Italy

    Silvia Nava

  5. Department of Physics, University of Genoa, and INFN-Genoa, 16146, Genoa, Italy

    Federico Mazzei & Paolo Prati

Authors
  1. Roberta Vecchi
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  2. Vera Bernardoni
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  3. Paola Fermo
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  4. Franco Lucarelli
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  5. Federico Mazzei
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  6. Silvia Nava
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  7. Paolo Prati
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  8. Andrea Piazzalunga
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  9. Gianluigi Valli
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Correspondence to Roberta Vecchi.

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Vecchi, R., Bernardoni, V., Fermo, P. et al. 4-hours resolution data to study PM10 in a “hot spot” area in Europe. Environ Monit Assess 154, 283–300 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0396-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0396-1

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