Study of Saharan dust influence on PM10 measures in Sicily from 2013 to 2015 |
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| Institution: | 1. “Torre Flavia” LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Protected area Service, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, via Tiburtina, 691, 00159 Rome, Italy;2. Laboratorio di Aerobiologia, Dipartimento di Biologia, Seconda Università di Roma Tor Vergata, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy;3. Regione Lazio, Direzione Ambiente e sistemi naturali, via del Pescaccio, 96-00166 Rome, Italy;1. Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Piazzale Martelli 8, Ancona, 60121, Italy;2. Department of Economics, Insubria University, Via Monte Generoso 71, Varese, 21100, Italy;3. National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), Regional Office, Via Castelfidardo 4, Ancona, 60121, Italy;1. Renewable Energies Chair, University of Évora, IIFA, Palácio do Vimioso, Largo Marquês de Marialva, 7002-554, Évora, Portugal;2. Departamento de Física, ICT, Instituto de Ciências da Terra, Universidade de Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7002-554, Évora, Portugal;3. Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6BB, UK;4. INESC TEC – INESC Technology and Science, Campus da FEUP, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal;1. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School of Engineering, Gijón Campus, University of Oviedo, 33203 Gijón, Spain;2. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, 30202 Cartagena, Spain;3. Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Polytechnic School of Engineering, Gijón Campus, University of Oviedo, 33203 Gijón, Spain |
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| Abstract: | Nowadays, particulate matter, especially that with small dimension as PM10, PM2.5 and PM1, is the air quality indicator most commonly associated with a number of adverse health effects. In this paper it is analyzed the impact that a natural event, such as the transport of Saharan dust, can have on increasing the particulate matter concentration in Sicily.Consulting the data of daily PM10 concentration, acquired by air quality monitoring network belonging to “Agenzia Regionale Protezionedell’ Ambiente” (Environmental Protection Regional Agency), it was possible to analyze the trend from 2013 to 2015. The days, in which the limit value was exceeded, were subjected to combined analysis. It was based on three models: interpretations of the air masses back-trajectories, using the atmospheric model HYSPLIT (HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated trajectory); on the calculation of the concentration on the ground and at high altitude particulate applying DREAM model (Dust REgional atmospheric model) and on the calculation of the concentration of mineral aerosols according to the atmospheric optical thickness (AOT) applying NAAPS model (Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System).The daily limit value exceedances were attributed to the transport of Saharan dust events exclusively when the three models were in agreement with each other. Identifying the natural events, it was possible to quantify the contribution of the Saharan dust and consequently the reduction of the exceedances number. To quantify the contribution of Saharan dust on daily PM10 concentration, it was calculated the regional background in according to precautionary approach recommended by “Guidance on the quantification of the contribution of natural sources under the EU Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC”, when the application of the method cannot be validated with chemical analysis, as in this case. In this study is obtained, as the most important quantitative goal, the convergence of the three models to the same result. So, is evident that exceedances of the daily limit value that occurred from 2013 to 2015 in Sicily can be attributed, in most cases, to the Saharan dust intrusion. |
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| Keywords: | Saharan dust Air quality Receptor modeling Sicily region Mediterranean area Applied Mathematics |
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