1. |
- Alastuey, Andres, et al.
(author)
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Geochemistry of PM10 over Europe during the EMEP intensive measurement periods in summer 2012 and winter 2013
- 2016
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In: Atmospheric Chemistry And Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 16:10, s. 6107-6129
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The third intensive measurement period (IMP) organised by the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) under the UNECE CLTRAP took place in summer 2012 and winter 2013, with PM10 filter samples concurrently collected at 20 (16 EMEP) regional background sites across Europe for subsequent analysis of their mineral dust content. All samples were analysed by the same or a comparable methodology. Higher PM10 mineral dust loadings were observed at most sites in summer (0.5-10aEuro-A mu gaEuro-m(-3)) compared to winter (0.2-2aEuro-A mu gaEuro-m(-3)), with the most elevated concentrations in the southern- and easternmost countries, accounting for 20-40aEuro-% of PM10. Saharan dust outbreaks were responsible for the high summer dust loadings at western and central European sites, whereas regional or local sources explained the elevated concentrations observed at eastern sites. The eastern Mediterranean sites experienced elevated levels due to African dust outbreaks during both summer and winter. The mineral dust composition varied more in winter than in summer, with a higher relative contribution of anthropogenic dust during the former period. A relatively high contribution of K from non-mineral and non-sea-salt sources, such as biomass burning, was evident in winter at some of the central and eastern European sites. The spatial distribution of some components and metals reveals the influence of specific anthropogenic sources on a regional scale: shipping emissions (V, Ni, and SO42-) in the Mediterranean region, metallurgy (Cr, Ni, and Mn) in central and eastern Europe, high temperature processes (As, Pb, and SO42-) in eastern countries, and traffic (Cu) at sites affected by emissions from nearby cities.
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2. |
- Bolling, Anette Kocbach, et al.
(author)
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Health effects of residential wood smoke particles : the importance of combustion conditions and physicochemical particle properties
- 2009
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In: Particle and Fibre Toxicology. - London : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1743-8977. ; 6
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Residential wood combustion is now recognized as a major particle source in many developed countries, and the number of studies investigating the negative health effects associated with wood smoke exposure is currently increasing. The combustion appliances in use today provide highly variable combustion conditions resulting in large variations in the physicochemical characteristics of the emitted particles. These differences in physicochemical properties are likely to influence the biological effects induced by the wood smoke particles.Outline: The focus of this review is to discuss the present knowledge on physicochemical properties of wood smoke particles from different combustion conditions in relation to wood smoke-induced health effects. In addition, the human wood smoke exposure in developed countries is explored in order to identify the particle characteristics that are relevant for experimental studies of wood smoke-induced health effects. Finally, recent experimental studies regarding wood smoke exposure are discussed with respect to the applied combustion conditions and particle properties.Conclusion: Overall, the reviewed literature regarding the physicochemical properties of wood smoke particles provides a relatively clear picture of how these properties vary with the combustion conditions, whereas particle emissions from specific classes of combustion appliances are less well characterised. The major gaps in knowledge concern; (i) characterisation of the atmospheric transformations of wood smoke particles, (ii) characterisation of the physicochemical properties of wood smoke particles in ambient and indoor environments, and (iii) identification of the physicochemical properties that influence the biological effects of wood smoke particles.
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3. |
- Espen Yttri, Karl, et al.
(author)
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Trends, composition, and sources of carbonaceous aerosol at the Birkenes Observatory, northern Europe, 2001-2018
- 2021
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In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 21:9, s. 7149-7170
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present 18 years (2001-2018) of aerosol measurements, including organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), organic tracers (levoglucosan, arabitol, mannitol, trehalose, glucose, and 2-methyltetrols), trace elements, and ions, at the Birkenes Observatory (southern Norway) - a site representative of the northern European region. The OC=EC (2001-2018) and the levoglucosan (2008-2018) time series are the longest in Europe, with OC=EC available for the PM10, PM2:5 (fine), and PM10-2:5 (coarse) size fractions, providing the opportunity for a nearly 2-decade-long assessment. Using positive matrix factorization (PMF), we identify seven carbonaceous aerosol sources at Birkenes: mineraldust- dominated aerosol (MIN), traffic/industry-like aerosol (TRA/IND), short-range-transported biogenic secondary organic aerosol (BSOASRT), primary biological aerosol particles (PBAP), biomass burning aerosol (BB), ammoniumnitrate- dominated aerosol (NH4NO3), and (one low carbon fraction) sea salt aerosol (SS). We observed significant (p < 0:05), large decreases in EC in PM10 (-3:9%yr-1) and PM2:5 (-4:2%yr-1) and a smaller decline in levoglucosan (-2:8%yr-1), suggesting that OC=EC from traffic and industry is decreasing, whereas the abatement of OC=EC from biomass burning has been slightly less successful. EC abatement with respect to anthropogenic sources is further supported by decreasing EC fractions in PM2:5 (-3:9%yr-1) and PM10 (-4:5%yr-1). PMF apportioned 72% of EC to fossil fuel sources; this was further supported by PMF applied to absorption photometer data, which yielded a two-factor solution with a low aerosol ngstr m exponent (AAED0.93) fraction, assumed to be equivalent black carbon from fossil fuel combustion (eBCFF), contributing 78% to eBC mass. The higher AAE fraction (AAED2.04) is likely eBC from BB (eBCBB). Source-receptor model calculations (FLEXPART) showed that continental Europe and western Russia were the main source regions of both elevated eBCBB and eBCFF. Dominating biogenic sources explain why there was no downward trend for OC. A relative increase in the OC fraction in PM2:5 (C3:2%yr-1) and PM10 (C2:4%yr-1) underscores the importance of biogenic sources at Birkenes (BSOA and PBAP), which were higher in the vegetative season and dominated both fine (53 %) and coarse (78 %) OC. Furthermore, 77 %-91% of OC in PM2:5, PM10-2:5, and PM10 was attributed to biogenic sources in summer vs. 22 %- 37% in winter. The coarse fraction had the highest share of biogenic sources regardless of season and was dominated by PBAP, except in winter. Our results show a shift in the aerosol composition at Birkenes and, thus, also in the relative source contributions. The need for diverse offline and online carbonaceous aerosol speciation to understand carbonaceous aerosol sources, including their seasonal, annual, and long-term variability, has been demonstrated.
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4. |
- Ferm, Martin, et al.
(author)
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Measurements of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 in air at Nordic background stations using low-cost equipment
- 2008
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Mass concentrations of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 in air were measured at four EMEP stations in the Nordic countries during 2006. All stations used the same low-cost equipment for sampling PM1, but used different techniques for the other size fractions. The PM1 filters were analysed for inorganic ions for the first half of June. PM1 constituted on average more than half of the PM2.5 concentrations, but was on average less than half of the PM10 concentrations. There were two episodes of high PM1 concentrations during the year, one in May-June and another one in August-September. The highest PM1 concentrations were found during South-Easterly wind trajectories and lowest concentrations during northerly trajectories. Even though the annual average mass relations between the three size fractions were rather independent of the trajectory sectors, the fine and the coarse particle masses were not correlated on a daily basis. The PM2.5 concentration, which is the parameter that should be measured within EU, correlated fairly well with the concentration of accumulation mode particles (PM1). In June only a minor fraction of PM1 consisted of inorganic ions. Only ammonium and sulphate ions of the measured ions in PM1 were well correlated with one another.
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5. |
- Gramlich, Yvette, 1993-, et al.
(author)
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Impact of Biomass Burning on Arctic Aerosol Composition
- 2024
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In: ACS Earth and Space Chemistry. - 2472-3452. ; 8:5, s. 920-936
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Emissions from biomass burning (BB) occurring at midlatitudes can reach the Arctic, where they influence the remote aerosol population. By using measurements of levoglucosan and black carbon, we identify seven BB events reaching Svalbard in 2020. We find that most of the BB events are significantly different to the rest of the year (nonevents) for most of the chemical and physical properties. Aerosol mass and number concentrations are enhanced by up to 1 order of magnitude during the BB events. During BB events, the submicrometer aerosol bulk composition changes from an organic- and sulfate-dominated regime to a clearly organic-dominated regime. This results in a significantly lower hygroscopicity parameter κ for BB aerosol (0.4 ± 0.2) compared to nonevents (0.5 ± 0.2), calculated from the nonrefractory aerosol composition. The organic fraction in the BB aerosol showed no significant difference for the O:C ratios (0.9 ± 0.3) compared to the year (0.9 ± 0.6). Accumulation mode particles were present during all BB events, while in the summer an additional Aitken mode was observed, indicating a mixture of the advected air mass with locally produced particles. BB tracers (vanillic, homovanillic, and hydroxybenzoic acid, nitrophenol, methylnitrophenol, and nitrocatechol) were significantly higher when air mass back trajectories passed over active fire regions in Eastern Europe, indicating agricultural and wildfires as sources. Our results suggest that the impact of BB on the Arctic aerosol depends on the season in which they occur, and agricultural and wildfires from Eastern Europe have the potential to disturb the background conditions the most.
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6. |
- Gustafsson, Mats, 1966-, et al.
(author)
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NORDUST II : Nordic Road Dust Project Phase II
- 2024
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Road dust is an important source to airborne particles in the Nordic countries. It consists of wear products from road pavement, tyres, brakes, traction sand, salt and dust dragged in from adjacent unbound roads or deposited from nearby or long distance dust sources, like building sites and farmland. The cold climate in the Nordic countries enhances the formation of road dust compared to most European countries, since it promotes the use of studded tyres, which abrades the road surfaces, and winter maintenance where dust forming material is added to the road surfaces.The NORDUST II project has aimed to enhance knowledge about road dust emissions through extensive investigations, including laboratory and field studies, measurements, modeling, and future scenarios. An initial work package summarized current knowledge on mitigating road dust emissions. It found that dust binding solutions are most effective during acute dust episodes, while sweeping is beneficial on a seasonal basis. Preventive measures during autumn and winter can reduce airborne dust in spring. A core component of the project was experimental parameterization of processes in the NORTRIP emissions model. Studies revealed that vehicle weight and speed significantly influence particulate matter (PM) emissions, with heavier vehicles and higher speeds increasing emissions. The type of tire and road surface properties also play crucial roles.Experiments showed that winter sand is quickly crushed into finer fractions when driven over, but only a small portion of the sand mass is crushed. Coarse particles are removed more efficiently than finer particles at low speeds, but all particles are removed at speeds above 20 km/h. A field test in Linköping, Sweden, examined the removal of the dust binder CMA by traffic. Results indicated that the NORTRIP model could largely replicate the impact of traffic migration on CMA concentrations.
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7. |
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8. |
- Pereira Freitas, Gabriel, 1993-, et al.
(author)
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Contribution of primary biological aerosol particles to low-level Arctic cloud condensation nuclei
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Mixed-phase clouds (MPC) are key players in the Arctic climate system due to their role in modulating solar and terrestrial radiation. Such radiative interactions critically rely on the ice content of MPC which, in turn, partly depends on the availability of ice nucleating particles (INP). INP sources and concentrations are poorly understood in the Arctic. Recently, INP active at high temperatures were linked to be primary biological aerosol particles (PBAP). Here, we investigated for a full year the PBAP abundance and variability within cloud residuals, directly sampled by a multiparameter bioaerosol spectrometer coupled to a ground-based counterflow virtual impactor inlet at the Zeppelin Observatory (475 m asl), Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. PBAP concentrations (10−3–10−2L−1) and contributions to coarse-mode aerosol (1 in every 103–104) within cloud residuals were found to be close to those expected for concentrations of high-temperature INP. Transmission electron microscopy also confirmed the presence of PBAP, most likely bacteria, within the cloud residual samples. Seasonally, our results reveal an elevated presence of PBAP within cloud residuals during the summer. Parallel water vapor isotope measurements points towards a link between summer clouds and regionally sourced air masses. Low-level MPC were predominantly observed at the beginning and end of summer, and one explanation for their presence is the existence of high-temperature INP. In this study, we present observational evidence that PBAP might play a role in determining the phase of low-level Arctic clouds, with potential implications for the Arctic climate given ongoing changes in the hydrological and biogeochemical cycles that influence the PBAP flux in and towards the Arctic.
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9. |
- Pereira Freitas, Gabriel, 1993-, et al.
(author)
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Regionally sourced bioaerosols drive high-temperature ice nucleating particles in the Arctic
- 2023
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In: Nature Communications. - 2041-1723. ; 14
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Primary biological aerosol particles (PBAP) play an important role in the climate system, facilitating the formation of ice within clouds, consequently PBAP may be important in understanding the rapidly changing Arctic. Within this work, we use single-particle fluorescence spectroscopy to identify and quantify PBAP at an Arctic mountain site, with transmission electronic microscopy analysis supporting the presence of PBAP. We find that PBAP concentrations range between 10−3–10−1 L−1 and peak in summer. Evidences suggest that the terrestrial Arctic biosphere is an important regional source of PBAP, given the high correlation to air temperature, surface albedo, surface vegetation and PBAP tracers. PBAP clearly correlate with high-temperature ice nucleating particles (INP) (>-15 °C), of which a high a fraction (>90%) are proteinaceous in summer, implying biological origin. These findings will contribute to an improved understanding of sources and characteristics of Arctic PBAP and their links to INP.
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10. |
- Platt, Stephen M., et al.
(author)
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Atmospheric composition in the European Arctic and 30 years of the Zeppelin Observatory, Ny-Ålesund
- 2022
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In: Atmospheric Chemistry And Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 22:5, s. 3321-3369
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Zeppelin Observatory (78.90∘ N, 11.88∘ E) is located on Zeppelin Mountain at 472 m a.s.l. on Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Established in 1989, the observatory is part of Ny-Ålesund Research Station and an important atmospheric measurement site, one of only a few in the high Arctic, and a part of several European and global monitoring programmes and research infrastructures, notably the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP); the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP); the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW); the Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS); the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) network; and the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS). The observatory is jointly operated by the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), Stockholm University, and the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU). Here we detail the establishment of the Zeppelin Observatory including historical measurements of atmospheric composition in the European Arctic leading to its construction. We present a history of the measurements at the observatory and review the current state of the European Arctic atmosphere, including results from trends in greenhouse gases, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), other traces gases, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals, aerosols and Arctic haze, and atmospheric transport phenomena, and provide an outline of future research directions.
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11. |
- Szidat, S, et al.
(author)
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Fossil and non-fossil sources of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in Goteborg, Sweden
- 2008
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In: Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss.. ; 8, s. 16255-16289
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Particulate matter was collected at an urban site in G¨oteborg (Sweden) in February/ March 2005 and in June/July 2006. Additional samples were collected at a rural site for the winter period. Elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), water-insoluble OC (WINSOC), and water-soluble OC (WSOC) were analyzed for 14C in order to distinguish fossil from non-fossil emissions. As wood burning is the single major source of non-fossil EC, its contribution can be quantified directly. For non-fossil OC, the wood burning fraction was determined independently by levoglucosan and 14C analysis and combined using Latin-hypercube sampling (LHS). For the winter period, the relative contribution of EC from wood burning to the total EC was >3 times higher at the rural site compared to the urban site, whereas the absolute concentrations of EC from wood burning were comparable at both sites. Thus, the urban site is substantially more influenced by fossil EC emissions. For summer, biogenic emissions dominated OC concentrations most likely due to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. During both seasons, a more pronounced fossil signal was observed for Go¨teborg than has previously been reported for Zurich, Switzerland. Analysis of air mass origin using back trajectories suggests that the fossil impact was larger when local sources dominated, whereas long-range transport caused an enhanced non-fossil signal. In comparison to other European locations, concentrations of levoglucosan and other monosaccharide anhydrides were low for the urban and the rural site in the area of Go¨teborg during winter. The comparison of summer and winter results provides insight into the annual cycle of anthropogenic vs. biogenic contributions to the atmospheric aerosol.
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13. |
- Yttri, Karl Espen, et al.
(author)
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The EMEP Intensive Measurement Period campaign, 2008-2009: characterizing carbonaceous aerosol at nine rural sites in Europe
- 2019
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In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 19:7, s. 4211-4233
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Carbonaceous aerosol (total carbon, TCp) was source apportioned at nine European rural background sites, as part of the European Measurement and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) Intensive Measurement Periods in fall 2008 and winter/spring 2009. Five predefined fractions were apportioned based on ambient measurements: elemental and organic carbon, from combustion of biomass (ECbb and OCbb) and from fossil-fuel (ECff and OCff) sources, and remaining non-fossil organic carbon (OCrnf), dominated by natural sources. OCrnf made a larger contribution to TCp than anthropogenic sources (ECbb, OCbb, ECff, and OCff) at four out of nine sites in fall, reflecting the vegetative season, whereas anthropogenic sources dominated at all but one site in winter/spring. Biomass burning (OCbb + ECbb) was the major anthropogenic source at the central European sites in fall, whereas fossil-fuel (OCff + ECff) sources dominated at the southernmost and the two northernmost sites. Residential wood burning emissions explained 30 %-50 % of TCp at most sites in the first week of sampling in fall, showing that this source can be the dominant one, even outside the heating season. In winter/spring, biomass burning was the major anthropogenic source at all but two sites, reflecting increased residential wood burning emissions in the heating season. Fossil-fuel sources dominated EC at all sites in fall, whereas there was a shift towards biomass burning for the southernmost sites in winter/spring. Model calculations based on base-case emissions (mainly officially reported national emissions) strongly underpredicted observational derived levels of OCbb and ECbb outside Scandinavia. Emissions based on a consistent bottom-up inventory for residential wood burning (and including intermediate volatility compounds, IVOCs) improved model results compared to the base-case emissions, but modeled levels were still substantially underestimated compared to observational derived OCbb and ECbb levels at the southernmost sites. Our study shows that natural sources are a major contributor to carbonaceous aerosol in Europe, even in fall and in winter/spring, and that residential wood burning emissions are equally as large as or larger than that of fossil-fuel sources, depending on season and region. The poorly constrained residential wood burning emissions for large parts of Europe show the obvious need to improve emission inventories, with harmonization of emission factors between countries likely being the most important step to improve model calculations for biomass burning emissions, and European PM2.5 concentrations in general.
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