Increased PM Concentrations during a Combined Wildfire and Saharan Dust Event Observed at High-Altitude Sonnblick Observatory, Austria

Schauer, Gerhard; Kasper‐Giebl, Anne; Mocnik, G.

doi:10.4209/aaqr.2015.05.0337

Cited by 17 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 54 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…es/forecast-products/dust-forecasts), are marked in orange in Figure 2. Additionally optical aerosol properties measured at the high mountain global GAW station Hoher Sonnblick in the Austrian Alps are used for the identification of desert dust (DD) occurrence [14]. The aim of this study was the quantification of DD contributions for days with PM 10 exceedances only.…”

Section: Pm 10 Levels At the Stations Graz Don Bosco (Db) And Graz Sümentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Desert Dust Contribution to PM10 Loads in Styria (Southern Austria) and Impact on Exceedance of Limit Values from 2013–2018

2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

From a legislators point of view, the contribution of natural sources to PM10 loads is relevant since their impact can be subtracted from the daily limit value of PM10 as regulated in a working staff paper by the European Commission (EC), supporting the European Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC). This work investigates its applicability for two stations in Austria over a time period of six years (2013 to 2018), as the occurrence of long-range transport of desert dust is observed on a regular base. Different stations and different statistical parameters were evaluated to determine the regional background load and subsequently the net dust load (NDL). Results reveal an adapted approach of the methodology described by the EC, using the +/− 15-day mean average of the PM10 at the regional background station, together with threshold criteria to identify only desert dust affected days. The results of calculated NDLs were in good agreement with crustal loads determined on filter samples during two desert dust events in 2016. Thus, the application of the EC method for a region in Central Europe, which experiences a regular but less pronounced impact of desert dust than stations in the Mediterranean, is discussed.

show abstract

Section: Pm 10 Levels At the Stations Graz Don Bosco (Db) And Graz Sümentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is well known that desert dust outbreaks regularly occur in Austria [12][13][14], although their impact is less pronounced than in the Mediterranean region. Their influence on air quality has not been investigated so far and a discussion of the EC methodology for the subtraction of desert dust contributions is completely missing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Desert Dust Contribution to PM10 Loads in Styria (Southern Austria) and Impact on Exceedance of Limit Values from 2013–2018

2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Aerosol sampling is performed via a heated (+20 • C) whole air inlet designed according to GAW guidelines, with an upper size cut of 20 µm at a wind speed of 20 m/s. Details about the setup are given in Schauer et al (2016). Episodes with a dominant influence of dust are continuously identified via the optical properties of the aerosol and the corresponding calculation of the wavelength dependence of the Single Scattering Albedo (SSA) according to Coen et al (2003).…”

Section: Aerosol Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Absorption coefficients were determined with an Aethalometer (AE33, Magee Scientific) at seven wavelengths, i.e., 370,470,525,590,660,880, and 940 nm. A detailed description of the respective calculations can be found in Schauer et al (2016). Based on this identification and on particulate matter (PM) concentrations a "dust index" is calculated on a routine base.…”

Section: Aerosol Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of Saharan Dust to Ion Deposition Loads of High Alpine Snow Packs in Austria (1987–2017)

et al. 2018

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We investigate the influence of Saharan dust on the chemical composition and deposition loads of a 31-year long snow chemistry data set (1987-2017) of high alpine snow packs situated close to the Sonnblick Observatory, a global GAW (Global Atmospheric Watch) station, in the National Park Hohe Tauern in the Austrian Alps. Based on the snow pack of the winter accumulation period 2015/2016, when two Saharan dust events were visible by a reddish color of the snow, we define a pH > 5.6 together with a Ca 2+ concentration > 10 µeq/l as thresholds to identify Saharan dust affected snow layers. This criterion is checked with an intercomparison with trajectories and on-line aerosol data determined at the Sonnblick Observatory. This check was extended to the accumulation periods 2014/2015 and 2016/2017 before the whole time series is investigated regarding the contribution of Saharan dust to ion deposition loads. Especially Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , and H + depositions are strongly affected by Saharan dust input causing, as average values across the 30 years period, increased Mg 2+ (25%) and Ca 2+ (35%) contributions of affected snow layers, while the contribution to the snow water equivalent was only 11%. For H + Saharan dust affected snow layers show a much lower contribution (2%) while the contribution of other ions is well comparable to the deposition amount expected according to the snow water equivalent of affected snow layers. The pH range of Saharan dust affected snow layers covers 5.58-7.17, while the median value of all samples is 5.40. The long term trends of ion deposition are not affected by the deposition of Saharan dust.

show abstract

“…Notably, nitrate concentrations were significantly lower than those measured at other elevated sites in Europe due to increased thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate. In another case study at Sonnblick, Austria, Schauer et al (2016) deployed aerosol absorption coefficient measurements as a tool to apportion biomass burning and Saharan dust in the air masses arriving at the sites, during an episode with increased PM levels.…”

Section: Regional Air Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of the Special Issue “Selected Papers from the 2nd Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics at Mountain Sites Symposium”

Hallar

Andrews

Bukowiecki

et al. 2016

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mountain sites provide a unique window on atmospheric chemistry and physics. These sites allow for continuous observations at high elevation, often in the free troposphere, where many important processes occur. Observations at these mountain sites allow for studies on long-range transport of pollution, cloud and precipitation processes, boundary layer ventilation and long-term observations of climate relevant gases and aerosols. However operating at mountain sites presents a unique set of challenges, and for this reason scientists doing research at these sites sought a forum to share knowledge on both the science and challenges of working at these sites.

show abstract

Increased PM Concentrations during a Combined Wildfire and Saharan Dust Event Observed at High-Altitude Sonnblick Observatory, Austria

Cited by 17 publications

References 54 publications

Desert Dust Contribution to PM10 Loads in Styria (Southern Austria) and Impact on Exceedance of Limit Values from 2013–2018

Desert Dust Contribution to PM10 Loads in Styria (Southern Austria) and Impact on Exceedance of Limit Values from 2013–2018

Contribution of Saharan Dust to Ion Deposition Loads of High Alpine Snow Packs in Austria (1987–2017)

Overview of the Special Issue “Selected Papers from the 2nd Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics at Mountain Sites Symposium”

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About