Naslov
Variability of black carbon aerosol concentrations and sources at the Central Adriatic coastal zone: light-absorption observation and source-oriented modelling

Autori
Milinković, Andrea ; Gregorič, Asta ; Džaja Grgičin, Vedrana ; Vidič, Sonja ; Penezić, Abra ; Cvitešić Kušan, Ana ; Bakija Alempijević, Saranda ; Kasper- Giebl, Anne ; Frka, Sanja

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, neobjavljeni rad, znanstveni

Skup
11th International Aerosol Conference (IAC 2022)

Mjesto i datum
Atena, Grčka, 04.09.2022. - 09.09.2022

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
aerosols ; balck carbon ; source apportionment ; Adriatic Sea

Sažetak
Black carbon (BC) is the most light-absorbing fraction of fine PM and major contributor to climate change. It is recognized as the primary pollutant resulting from incomplete combustion of mostly fossil fuels and biomass. Thus, measuring BC variabilities and understanding its sources is of interest for public health, air quality and climate. Studies on temporal variations and sources of BC have been so far predominantly limited to winter campaigns conducted at highly polluted urban sites and other European inland regions (e.g., Crippa et al. 2013 ; Helin et al. 2018 ; Herich et al. 2011), while significantly less data are available for lower population density areas and less polluted coastal zones, especially during spring/summer when increased shipping emissions are expected. Considering the Mediterranean, a limited number of studies of BC aerosols have been conducted in the Adriatic Sea area which are exclusively restricted to its northern part (e.g., Ivošević et al. 2016), while other areas have not been explored so far. To investigate the temporal variation of aerosol optical properties and evaluate the main BC emission sources considering different seasons in a typical Mediterranean coastal environment, a field campaign was conducted during February–July 2019 at the Central Adriatic coastal area (Milinković et al. 2021). Real-time measurements of aerosol light absorption were continuously obtained using an aethalometer, while the Aethalometer model source apportionment data, optimized by levoglucosan measurements, were evaluated against the modelling results of the LOTOS-EUROS chemical transport model. The measured mean equivalent BC mass concentration of 0.57 ± 0.64 μg m-3 was the lowest observed in the Mediterranean region. BC from fossil fuel (BCff) dominated the area throughout the study period with a maximum in winter and elevated levels by the approaching summer tourist season. Diel variability of BC concentrations from biomass burning (BCbb) was observed during stable winter conditions, with clear morning and evening concentration peaks, consistent with the profile of residential heating by wood burning. Up to 88% of BC concentrations were attributed to European emission sectors, with stationary source combustion, transportation, shipping and agriculture sectors being the most influential contributors. Source apportionment of BC highlighted that, in addition to biomass burning, small combustion fossil fuel sources, including land traffic and shipping, should be more strictly controlled in order to limit BC pollution in Mediterranean coastal areas. This study serves as a basis of comparison for future studies addressing air quality and pollution source apportionment in the Adriatic and/or the Mediterranean coastal regions in efforts of mitigation and adaptation to climate change. This work has been supported by Croatian Science Foundation under the IP-2018-01-3105 BiREADI project.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Interdisciplinarne prirodne znanosti

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