Work

Peplospheric Influences on Local Greenhouse Gas and Aerosol Variability at the Lamezia Terme WMO/GAW Regional Station in Calabria, Southern Italy: A Multiparameter Investigation

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: One of the keys towards sustainable policies and advanced air quality monitoring is the detailed assessment of all factors that affect the surface concentrations of greenhouse gases and aerosols. While the development of new atmospheric tracers can pinpoint emission sources, the atmosphere itself plays a relevant role even at local scales: its dynamics can increase, or reduce, surface concentrations of pollutants harmful for human health and the environment. Peplosphere, or PBL (Planetary Boundary Layer), variability is known to affect such concentrations. In this study, an unprecedented characterization of PBL cycles and patterns is performed at the WMO/GAW regional coastal site of Lamezia Terme in Calabria, Southern Italy, in conjunction with the analysis of key greenhouse gases and aerosols. The analysis, accounting for five months of 2024 data, indicates that PBL variability and wind regimes do influence the concentrations of key GHGs and aerosols. In particular, eastern synoptic flows at the site are linked with high yields, and PBLH patterns can further influence the surface concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), black carbon (BC), and particulate matter (PM). This research demonstrates that PBL monitoring needs to be considered when ensuring optimal air quality in urban and rural areas.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su162310175