The June 2007 Saharan dust event in the central Mediterranean: Observations and radiative effects in marine, urban, and sub-urban environments

Gómez-Amo, J. L.; Pinti, V.; Iorio, Tatiana Di; Sarra, Alcide di; Meloni, Daniela; Becagli, Silvia; Bellantone, Vincenzo; Cacciani, Marco; Fuà, D.; Perrone, M. R.

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.06.045

Cited by 42 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…14), corresponding to a relatively low value for a dust outbreak occurring over the Mediterranean Basin (Mallet et al, 2016). AOD can reach values above one (Guerrero-Rascado et al, 2009, over the western Mediterranean) and even up to two (Di Sarra et al, 2011 over Lampedusa). As observed during the PMA period, AOD is not sensitive to wavelengths during the dust event, denoting the presence of coarse particles.…”

Section: Pma Physical Properties In Comparison With Dust and Bbp Periodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The transport time of air masses from northern Africa to Ersa ranges between 2 and 6 days. Such air masses contain significant concentrations of mineral dust particles, which are usually transported at higher altitudes over the Mediterranean Basin, in the free troposphere and up to 9 km in altitude Hamonou et al, 1999;Dulac and Chazette, 2003;Di Iorio et al, 2009;Mona et al, 2006;Gómez-Amo et al, 2011). Thus, we also performed simulations starting at 4000 m a.s.l., that show that the air masses arriving at Cap Corse on 19 and 20 June were within the boundary layer (< 1000 m) over Tunisia and Algeria from 2 to 3 days before.…”

Section: Origins and Time Of Residence Of The Different Air-masses Obmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This high variability in terms of PMA loading and optical, physical and chemical properties leads to significant uncertainties in the quantification of regional radiative impact, both for direct and indirect effects (Forster et al, 2007;Stevens and Feingold, 2009). Finally, it should be noted that most past studies have documented aerosol properties in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin (Crete Mihalopoulos et al, 1997;Bardouki et al, 2003;Sciare et al, 2003;Koulouri et al, 2008;Greece Chabas and Lefèvre, 2000), even though many studies also took place in the central (Meloni et al, 2004;Di Iorio et al, 2009) and western (Sellegri et al, 2001;Cros et al, 2004;Pey et al, 2009;Guerrero-Rascado et al, 2009) Mediterranean Basin.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Optical, physical and chemical properties of aerosols transported to a coastal site in the western Mediterranean: a focus on primary marine aerosols

et al. 2017

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Abstract. As part of the ChArMEx-ADRIMED campaign (summer 2013), ground-based in situ observations were conducted at the Ersa site (northern tip of Corsica; 533 m a.s.l.) to characterise the optical, physical and chemical properties of aerosols. During the observation period, a major influence of primary marine aerosols was detected (22-26 June), with a mass concentration reaching up to 6.5 µg m −3 and representing more than 40 % of the total PM 10 mass concentration. Its relatively low ratio of chloride to sodium (average of 0.57) indicates a fairly aged sea salt aerosol at Ersa. In this work, an original data set, obtained from online real-time instruments (ATOFMS, PILS-IC) has been used to characterise the ageing of primary marine aerosols (PMAs). During this PMA period, the mixing of fresh and aged PMAs was found to originate from both local and regional (Gulf of Lion) emissions, according to local wind measurements and FLEXPART back trajectories. Two different aerosol regimes have been identified: a dust outbreak (dust) originating from Algeria/Tunisia, and a pollution period with aerosols originating from eastern Europe, which includes anthropogenic and biomass burning sources (BBP). The optical, physical and chemical properties of the observed aerosols, as well as their local shortwave (SW) direct radiative effect (DRE) in clear-sky conditions, are compared for these three periods in order to assess the importance of the direct radiative impact of PMAs compared to other sources above the western Mediterranean Basin.As expected, AERONET retrievals indicate a relatively low local SW DRF during the PMA period with mean values of −11 ± 4 at the surface and −8 ± 3 W m −2 at the top of the atmosphere (TOA). In comparison, our results indicate that the dust outbreak observed at our site during the campaign, although of moderate intensity (AOD of 0.3-0.4 at 440 nm and column-integrated SSA of 0.90-0.95), induced a local instantaneous SW DRF that is nearly 3 times the effect calculated during the PMA period, with maximum values up to −40 W m −2 at the surface. A similar range of values were found for the BBP period to those during the dust period (SW DRF at the surface and TOA of −23 ± 6 and −15 ± 4 W m −2 respectively).The multiple sources of measurements at Ersa allowed the detection of a PMA-dominant period and their characterisation in terms of ageing, origin, transport, optical and physical properties and direct climatic impact.

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Section: Pma Physical Properties In Comparison With Dust and Bbp Periodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Origins and Time Of Residence Of The Different Air-masses Obmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Optical, physical and chemical properties of aerosols transported to a coastal site in the western Mediterranean: a focus on primary marine aerosols

et al. 2017

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“…Several studies have quantified chemical composition of aerosol in the Mediterranean area during Saharan dust events (Querol et al, 2001, Gómez-Amo et al, 2011, Kocak et al, 2012, Öztürk et al, 2012Bougiatioti et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Composition of Fine and Coarse Aerosol Particles in the Central Mediterranean Area during Dust and Non-Dust Conditions

Malaguti

Mircea

Torretta

et al. 2015

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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A two-month field campaign was carried out from May to June 2010 at a remote site (Trisaia ENEA Research Centre) in the Southern Italy aiming to identify and quantify the changes of aerosol chemical composition in the presence of Saharan dust. The 24-hr PM 10 and PM 2.5 filter samples were analyzed by mass, carbonaceous species, inorganic ions and elemental composition. Saharan dust transport events were identified with two approaches: one recommended by EC (2011) and one based on indicators derived from measurements. Three indicators were used: PM 2.5 /PM 10 mass concentrations ratio, Ca/Al ratio and Al concentration. Based on these criteria, four Saharan dust transport events were identified, but only one had elevated dust concentration and leaded to an exceedance of the European short-term (24 hour) limit value of 50 µg/m 3 for PM 10 (June 16 th ). The comparison of chemical composition of fine and coarse aerosol fractions during dust and non-dust conditions shows that the presence of dust increases NH 4 and nssSO 4 concentrations in the fine fraction and NO 3 and nssSO 4 concentrations in the coarse fraction. OC and EC concentrations also increase in the fine fraction during dust transport. The uptake of primary and secondary species, inorganic and organic, by dust particles changes their composition and, thus, their properties and this may have implications for human health and climate change.

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“…Previous studies at Lampedusa suggested values around −68 W m −2 (di Sarra et al, 2008;Di Biagio et al, 2009 Sarra et al, 2008Di Biagio et al, 2009. In a recent modelling study Gómez-Amo et al (2011) derive values between −175 and −250 W m −2 at 60 • solar zenith angle. Meloni et al (2005) estimated the radiative effect produced in the visible spectral range by two Saharan dust events occurred at Lampedusa in July 2002.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimate of surface direct radiative forcing of desert dust from atmospheric modulation of the aerosol optical depth

2013

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Measurements carried out on the island of Lampedusa, in the central Mediterranean, on 7 September 2005, show the occurrence of a quasi-periodic oscillation of aerosol optical depth, column water vapour, and surface irradiance in different spectral bands. The oscillation has a period of about 13 min and is attributed to the propagation of a gravity wave able to modify the vertical structure of the planetary boundary layer, as also confirmed by satellite images. The wave occurred during a Saharan dust event. The oscillation amplitude is about 0.1 for the aerosol optical depth, and about 0.4 cm for the column water vapour. The modulation of the downward surface irradiances is in opposition of phase with respect to aerosol optical depth and water vapour column variations. The perturbation of the downward irradiance produced by the aerosols is determined by comparing the measured irradiances with estimated irradiances at a fixed value of the aerosol optical depth, and by correcting for the effect of the water vapour in the shortwave spectral range. The direct radiative forcing efficiency, i.e., the radiative perturbation of the net surface irradiance produced by a unit of optical depth aerosol layer, is determined at different solar zenith angles as the slope of the irradiance perturbation versus the aerosol optical depth. The estimated direct surface forcing efficiency at about 60° solar zenith angle is −(181 ± 17) W m⁻² in the shortwave, and −(83 ± 7) W m⁻² in the photosynthetic spectral range. The estimated daily average forcing efficiencies are of about −79 and −46 W m⁻² for the shortwave and photosynthetic spectral range, respectively

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The June 2007 Saharan dust event in the central Mediterranean: Observations and radiative effects in marine, urban, and sub-urban environments

Cited by 42 publications

References 48 publications

Optical, physical and chemical properties of aerosols transported to a coastal site in the western Mediterranean: a focus on primary marine aerosols

Optical, physical and chemical properties of aerosols transported to a coastal site in the western Mediterranean: a focus on primary marine aerosols

Chemical Composition of Fine and Coarse Aerosol Particles in the Central Mediterranean Area during Dust and Non-Dust Conditions

Estimate of surface direct radiative forcing of desert dust from atmospheric modulation of the aerosol optical depth

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