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It is well known that meteorology plays an important role in the diurnal evolution of pollutants, especially those variables related to atmospheric dispersion. Most studies typically relate the concentration of some pollutants with wind speed from conventional anemometers; however, the use of turbulence variables is less common, in part because the needed instruments are not so typical in standard air-quality stations. In this work, we compare the wind-NO2 relationship with the turbulence-NO2 one using observational data from two field campaigns developed in Madrid (winter and summer). The turbulence data comes from two sonic anemometers deployed at different locations: one close to the street and the other at the top of a nearby tall building. The results indicate that the turbulent variables correlate better with the pollutant concentration than the wind speed when using data from the street sonic, while the contrary is found when using the terrace sonic. These data are also used to perform a fine-scale analysis of the turbulent diffusion-NO2 behaviour during a very-stable period in winter, when the turbulence typically shows a decrease in the evening transition, causing the highestNO2 concentrations. Conversely, under these conditions, the formation of thermally-driven winds is also favoured later in the night, which favours the pollutant dispersion and cleaning of the air. The important role of these dynamical processes on the NO2 evolution highlights the importance of the correct understanding of small-scale atmospheric processes to understand their relationship with the concentration of pollutants., Comunidad de Madrid, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España), Fondo Social Europeo, Unión Europea NextGeneration EU/PRTR, Depto. de Física de la Tierra y Astrofísica, Fac. de Ciencias Físicas, TRUE, pub

An intense and long-lasting Saharan dust outbreak crossed the Iberian Peninsula (IP) from the southwest (SW) to the northeast (NE) from 25 March until 7 April 2021. This work aims to assess the optical and mass contribution of both fine and coarse dust particles along their transport. Five Iberian lidar stations were monitoring the transport and evolution of the Saharan dust particles, i.e. El Arenosillo/Huelva, Granada, Torrejón/Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, and Évora in Portugal. The particular meteorological conditions determined the aerosol scenario along the overall dust event, differing in the first part of the event (25–31 March), in which the strongest dust incidence occurred on 29–31 March at the south and central stations and 1 April at Barcelona, from the second one (1–7 April). The use of the two-step POLIPHON algorithm showed the relevance of using polarized lidar measurements for separating the aerosol properties of dust fine and coarse particles as an added value. Both the fine dust (Df) and coarse dust (Dc) components of the total particle backscatter coefficient (total dust, DD¿=¿Dc¿+¿Df) were separately derived. The dust plume was well-mixed with height and no significant differences were found in the vertical structure of both the Dc and Df particle backscatter coefficients. From the beginning of the dust outbreak until 1 April, the vertical Df¿¿DD mass ratio was nearly constant in time at each station and also in altitude with values of ~¿10¿%. Moreover, the mean dust optical depth at 532¿nm was decreasing along that dust pathway, reporting values from SW to NE stations of 0.34 at El Arenosillo/Huelva, 0.28 at Granada, 0.20 at Évora, 0.28 at Torrejón/Madrid, and 0.14 at Barcelona, although its Df¿¿DD ratio remained almost constant (28¿%–30¿%). A similar pattern was found for the total dust mass loading and its Df¿¿DD ratio, i.e. mostly decreasing mean mass values were reported, being constant in its Df¿¿DD ratio (~¿10¿%) along the SW–NE dust pat, This research has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant no. PID2019-104205GB-C21/AEI/10.13039/501100011033)., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

This study analyzed the variability of equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations and their sources in urban Europe to provide insights into the use of eBC as an advanced air quality (AQ) parameter for AQ standards. This study compiled eBC mass concentration datasets covering the period between 2006 and 2022 from 50 measurement stations, including 23 urban background (UB), 18 traffic (TR), 7 suburban (SUB), and 2 regional background (RB) sites. The results highlighted the need for the harmonization of eBC measurements to allow for direct comparisons between eBC mass concentrations measured across urban Europe. The eBC mass concentrations exhibited a decreasing trend as follows: TR > UB > SUB > RB. Furthermore, a clear decreasing trend in eBC concentrations was observed in the UB sites moving from Southern to Northern Europe. The eBC mass concentrations exhibited significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity, including marked differences in eBC mass concentration and variable contributions of pollution sources to bulk eBC between different cities. Seasonal patterns in eBC concentrations were also evident, with higher winter concentrations observed in a large proportion of cities, especially at UB and SUB sites. The contribution of eBC from fossil fuel combustion, mostly traffic (eBCT) was higher than that of residential and commercial sources (eBCRC) in all European sites studied. Nevertheless, eBCRC still had a substantial contribution to total eBC mass concentrations at a majority of the sites. eBC trend analysis revealed decreasing trends for eBCT over the last decade, while eBCRC remained relatively constant or even increased slightly in some cities.

This study analyzed the variability of equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations and their sources in urban Europe to provide insights into the use of eBC as an advanced air quality (AQ) parameter for AQ standards. This study compiled eBC mass concentration datasets covering the period between 2006 and 2022 from 50 measurement stations, including 23 urban background (UB), 18 traffic (TR), 7 suburban (SUB), and 2 regional background (RB) sites. The results highlighted the need for the harmonization of eBC measurements to allow for direct comparisons between eBC mass concentrations measured across urban Europe. The eBC mass concentrations exhibited a decreasing trend as follows: TR > UB > SUB > RB. Furthermore, a clear decreasing trend in eBC concentrations was observed in the UB sites moving from Southern to Northern Europe. The eBC mass concentrations exhibited significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity, including marked differences in eBC mass concentration and variable contributions of pollution sources to bulk eBC between different cities. Seasonal patterns in eBC concentrations were also evident, with higher winter concentrations observed in a large proportion of cities, especially at UB and SUB sites. The contribution of eBC from fossil fuel combustion, mostly traffic (eBCT) was higher than that of residential and commercial sources (eBCRC) in all European sites studied. Nevertheless, eBCRC still had a substantial contribution to total eBC mass concentrations at a majority of the sites. eBC trend analysis revealed decreasing trends for eBCT over the last decade, while eBCRC remained relatively constant or even increased slightly in some cities., This study is supported by the RI-URBANS project (Research Infrastructures Services Reinforcing Air Quality Monitoring Capacities in European Urban & Industrial Areas, European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, Green Deal, European Commission, contract 101036245). RI-URBANS is implementing the ACTRIS (https://actris.eu/) strategy for the development of services for improving air quality in Europe. The authors would like to also thank the support from “Agencia Estatal de Investigación” from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under the project CAIAC (PID2019-108990RB-I00) and the Generalitat de Catalunya (AGAUR, SGR-447) M. Savadkoohi would like to thank the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for her FPI grant (PRE-2020-095498). This study is also part funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, a partnership between UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Imperial College London, and the UK Natural Environment Research Council. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, UKHSA or the Department of Health and Social Care. The measurements in Stockholm (SE) were funded by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The work performed in Rome (IT) was supported by ARPA Lazio, the regional Environmental Protection Agency. This work was also carried out through the Core Program within the Romanian National Research Development and Innovation Plan 2022-2027, with the support of MCID, project no. PN 23 05 and through the European Regional Development Fund through the Competitiveness Operational Programme 2014–2020, Action 1.1.3 Creating synergies with H2020 Programme, project Strengthen the participation of the ACTRIS-RO consortium in the pan-European research infrastructure ACTRIS, ACTRIS-ROC, MYSMIS code 107596 (ctr. no.337/2021). Measurements at Granada urban station were possible thanks to the “Agencia Es, Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

An unprecedented extreme Saharan dust event was registered in winter time from 20 to 23 February 2017 over the Iberian Peninsula (IP). We report on aerosol optical properties observed under this extreme dust intrusion through passive and active remote sensing techniques. For that, AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) and EARLINET (European Aerosol Research LIdar NETwork) databases are used. The sites considered are: Barcelona (41.38°N, 2.17°E), Burjassot (39.51°N, 0.42°W), Cabo da Roca (38.78°N, 9.50°W), Évora (38.57°N, 7.91°W), Granada (37.16°N, 3.61°W) and Madrid (40.45°N, 3.72°W). Large aerosol optical depths (AOD) and low Ångström exponents (AE) are observed. An AOD of 2.0 at 675¿nm is reached in several stations. A maximum peak of 2.5 is registered in Évora. During and around the peak of AOD, AEs close to 0 and even slightly negative are measured. With regard to vertically-resolved aerosol optical properties, particle backscatter coefficients as high as 15¿Mm-1¿sr-1 at 355¿nm are recorded at the lidar stations. Layer-mean lidar ratios are found in the range 40–55¿sr at 355¿nm and 34–61¿sr at 532¿nm during the event. The particle depolarization ratios are found to be constant inside the dust layer, and consistent from one site to another. Layer-mean values vary in the range 0.19–0.31. Another remarkable aspect of the event is the limited vertical distribution of the dust plume which never exceeds 5¿km. The extreme aspect of the event also presented a nice case for testing the ability of two dust forecast models, BSC-DREAM8b and NMMB/BSC-Dust, to reproduce the arrival, the vertical distribution and the intensity of the dust plume over a long-range transport region. In the particular case of the February 2017 dust event, we found a large underestimation in the forecast of the extinction coefficient provided by BSC-DREAM8b at all heights independently of the site. In contrast NMMB/BSC-Dust forecasts presented a better agreement with the observations, especially in sou, Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

A detailed spatial and temporal assessment of urban NH3 levels and potential emission sources was made with passive samplers in six major Spanish cities (Barcelona, Madrid, A Coruña, Huelva, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Valencia). Measurements were conducted during two different periods (winter–autumn and spring–summer) in each city. Barcelona showed the clearest spatial pattern, with the highest concentrations in the old city centre, an area characterised by a high population density and a dense urban architecture. The variability in NH3 concentrations did not follow a common seasonal pattern across the different cities. The relationship of urban NH3 with SO2 and NOX allowed concluding on the causes responsible for the variations in NH3 levels between measurement periods observed in Barcelona, Huelva and Madrid. However, the factors governing the variations in A Coruña, Valencia and Santa Cruz de Tenerife are still not fully understood. This study identified a broad variability in NH3 concentrations at the city-scale, and it confirms that NH3 sources in Spanish urban environments are vehicular traffic, biological sources (e.g. garbage containers), wastewater treatment plants, solid waste treatment plants and industry. The importance of NH3 monitoring in urban environments relies on its role as a precursor of secondary inorganic species and therefore PMX. Further research should be addressed in order to establish criteria to develop and implement mitigation strategies for cities, and to include urban NH3 sources in the emission inventories.

Few recent studies examined acute effects on health of individual chemical species in the particulate matter (PM) mixture, and most of them have been conducted in North America. Studies in Southern Europe are scarce. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between particulate matter constituents and daily hospital admissions and mortality in five cities in Southern Europe.

El proyecto ChArMEx (Chemistry-Aerosol Mediterranean Experiment) es una iniciativa francesa cuyo objetivo es desarrollar y coordinar las acciones de investigación regionales para una evaluación científica de la situación actual y el futuro del medio ambiente atmosférico en la cuenca mediterránea. Los grupos españoles que participan en ChArMEx llevan a cabo investigaciones en varios campos. Entre ellos cabe señalar: un estudio in-situ de 3 años (2010-2012) en un entorno regional de fondo en Mallorca; la instalación en Mallorca y Granada de dos nuevos colectores de deposición autónomos que colectan la deposición de polvo semanalmente; mediciones intensivas in situ y de teledetección en Barcelona en el verano 2012 durante la pre-campaña ChArMEx; y mediciones de teledetección intensivos en Barcelona y Granada en el verano de 2013 durante la campaña ChArMEx / ADRIMED. Este manuscrito da un resumen de todas las actividades conducidas por investigadores españoles hasta ahora en el marco de ChArMEx. Se presentan resultados preliminares del estudio in-situ de 3 años en Mallorca y parte de las campañas de verano de 2012 y 2013., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

The ChArMEx (Chemistry-Aerosol Mediterranean Experiment) project is a French initiative aiming at developing and coordinating regional research actions for a scientific assessment of the present and future state of the atmospheric environment in the Mediterranean Basin, and of its impacts on the regional climate, air quality, and marine biogeochemistry. The target of ChArMEx is short-lived particulate and gaseous tropospheric trace species. In 2009 the project gained internationalization with the organization of the first international workshop held in Toulouse, France. Spain was the most represented country (after France) with 7 groups and 10 researchers. Up to date, the Spanish groups involved in ChArMEx have conducted research in several fields. Among them it is worth noting: a 3-year (2010 – 2012) in-situ study over a regional background environment in Mallorca plus 3 intensive measurement campaigns in that period; the installation in Mallorca and in the Sierra Nevada of two autonomous total deposition samplers performing weekly dust deposition on a network basis; and intensive in-situ and remote sensing measurements in Barcelona in thesummer 2012 ChArMEx pre-campaign to give support to airborne observations. The paper gives a summary of all the activities led by Spanish researchers in the framework of ChArMEx. Preliminary results of the 3-year in-situ study in Mallorca and of the summer 2012 pre-campaign, as well as a brief description of the summer 2013 main campaign are presented., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

The experimental campaign “Determination of the sources of atmospheric Aerosols in Urban and RuralEnvironments in Spain “(DAURE) took place in a urban (Barcelona city) and a rural (the Montseny Natural Park) Spanish sites. Its main objective was to study the formation and transport processes of particulate matter in the region during winter and summer time. This paper presents a description of the meteorological conditions during the campaign by means of meteorological observations, high-resolution mesoscale meteorological modelling and backward Lagrangian particle dispersion simulations. Modelling results are in agreement with observations and provide a valuable tool for characterizing transport patterns in relation to episodes of air pollution. An objective classification of the synoptic conditions and a classification of the main local dispersion patterns is presented and discussed. Additionally, themeasured PM1 and PM10 levels in both urban and rural sites are discussed and related to the meteorological conditions observed., Preprint