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Combining light-absorption observation and source-oriented modelling for characterization and source apportionment of black carbon aerosol pollution in a typical Mediterranean coastal area

Black carbon (BC) is recognized as the primary pollutant resulting from incomplete combustion of mostly fossil fuels and biomass. It is the most light-absorbing fraction of fine particulate matter (PM) and a major contributor to climate change. Studies of BC temporal variations and sources are so far predominantly limited to winter campaigns performed at highly polluted urban sites, while significantly less data are present for areas with lower population density and less polluted coastal environments. In order to study the temporal variation of the aerosol optical properties and to evaluate major BC emission sources in a typical coastal Mediterranean environment, a field campaign during February–July 2019 at the Central Adriatic area was conducted. Real-time continuous BC measurements were performed, while Aethalometer model source apportionment, optimized by using levoglucosan measurements, was evaluated against modelling results obtained by LOTOS-EUROS chemical transport model. The measured mean BC concentration of 0.57 μg m-3 was the lowest among others observed in the Mediterranean area. Daily, monthly and seasonal variations in BC concentrations are significantly affected by domestic heating, local traffic as well as by local meteorological conditions and long-range air-mass impacts. The BC from fossil fuel (BCff) dominated the area throughout the studied period with maximum in the winter and increased levels by the approaching summer. European emission sectors contributed to BC concentrations up to 88% with stationary source combustion, transportation, shipping and agriculture sectors as the most influential contributors. This study highlighted that in addition to biomass burning, the small combustion fossil fuel sources, including land traffic and shipping sources should be much more strictly controlled to limit the BC pollution at pristine Mediterranean areas.

black carbon ; source apportionment ; aethalometer ; LOTOS-EUROS ; levoglucosan ; Adriatic Sea

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