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Vertical profiles of biological particle concentrations under convective conditions

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Abstract

Measurements of vertical profiles of pollen concentration from local and remote sources have been made during convective conditions with balloon-mounted rotating impaction samplers.

The vertical profiles of local particles appear to be usually characterized by a decrease in the ground layer and by almost constant values aloft. A minimum often occurs at levels between 100 and 200 m.

The concentration profiles of pollen from remote sources present a peak at heights of some hundred meters.

By comparing the observed profiles with some published models of transport, it appears that: (i) because of differing eddy scales, turbulent transport affects the settling of pollen differently close to the ground than aloft; and (ii) turbulent anisotropies related to the dynamic and thermal structure of the atmosphere may affect the vertical distribution of particulate matter in the boundary layer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Fisica dell'Atmosfera CNR, Sez. Microfisica, Bologna, Italy

    Paolo Mandrioli

  2. Lab. Studio della Dinamica delle Grandi Masse CNR, Venezia, Italy

    Francesco Tampieri

Authors
  1. Paolo Mandrioli
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  2. Francesco Tampieri
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Mandrioli, P., Tampieri, F. Vertical profiles of biological particle concentrations under convective conditions. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 14, 331–340 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121043

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