TY - JOUR

T1 - Biomass burning contributions to urban aerosols in a coastal Mediterranean City

AU - Reche, C.

AU - Viana, M.

AU - Amato, F.

AU - Alastuey, A.

AU - Moreno, T.

AU - Hillamo, R.

AU - Teinilä, K.

AU - Saarnio, K.

AU - Seco, R.

AU - Peñuelas, J.

AU - Mohr, C.

AU - Prévôt, A. S. H.

AU - Querol, X.

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Mean annual biomass burning contributions to the bulk particulate matter (PM X) load were quantified in a southern-European urban environment (Barcelona, Spain) with special attention to typical Mediterranean winter and summer conditions. In spite of the complexity of the local air pollution cocktail and the expected low contribution of biomass burning emissions to PM levels in Southern Europe, the impact of these emissions was detected at an urban background site by means of tracers such as levoglucosan, K + and organic carbon (OC). The significant correlation between levoglucosan and OC (r 2=0.77) and K + (r 2=0.65), as well as a marked day/night variability of the levoglucosan levels and levoglucosan/OC ratios was indicative of the contribution from regional scale biomass burning emissions during night-time transported by land breezes. In addition, on specific days (21-22 March), the contribution from long-range transported biomass burning aerosols was detected.Quantification of the contribution of biomass burning aerosols to PM levels on an annual basis was possible by means of the Multilinear Engine (ME). Biomass burning emissions accounted for 3% of PM 10 and PM 2.5 (annual mean), while this percentage increased up to 5% of PM 1. During the winter period, regional-scale biomass burning emissions (agricultural waste burning) were estimated to contribute with 7±4% of PM 2.5 aerosols during night-time (period when emissions were clearly detected). Long-range transported biomass burning aerosols (possibly from forest fires and/or agricultural waste burning) accounted for 5±2% of PM 2.5 during specific episodes. Annually, biomass burning emissions accounted for 19%-21% of OC levels in PM 10, PM 2.5 and PM 1. The contribution of this source to K + ranged between 48% for PM 10 and 97% for PM 1 (annual mean). Results for K + from biomass burning evidenced that this tracer is mostly emitted in the fine fraction, and thus coarse K + could not be taken as an appropriate tracer of biomass burning.

AB - Mean annual biomass burning contributions to the bulk particulate matter (PM X) load were quantified in a southern-European urban environment (Barcelona, Spain) with special attention to typical Mediterranean winter and summer conditions. In spite of the complexity of the local air pollution cocktail and the expected low contribution of biomass burning emissions to PM levels in Southern Europe, the impact of these emissions was detected at an urban background site by means of tracers such as levoglucosan, K + and organic carbon (OC). The significant correlation between levoglucosan and OC (r 2=0.77) and K + (r 2=0.65), as well as a marked day/night variability of the levoglucosan levels and levoglucosan/OC ratios was indicative of the contribution from regional scale biomass burning emissions during night-time transported by land breezes. In addition, on specific days (21-22 March), the contribution from long-range transported biomass burning aerosols was detected.Quantification of the contribution of biomass burning aerosols to PM levels on an annual basis was possible by means of the Multilinear Engine (ME). Biomass burning emissions accounted for 3% of PM 10 and PM 2.5 (annual mean), while this percentage increased up to 5% of PM 1. During the winter period, regional-scale biomass burning emissions (agricultural waste burning) were estimated to contribute with 7±4% of PM 2.5 aerosols during night-time (period when emissions were clearly detected). Long-range transported biomass burning aerosols (possibly from forest fires and/or agricultural waste burning) accounted for 5±2% of PM 2.5 during specific episodes. Annually, biomass burning emissions accounted for 19%-21% of OC levels in PM 10, PM 2.5 and PM 1. The contribution of this source to K + ranged between 48% for PM 10 and 97% for PM 1 (annual mean). Results for K + from biomass burning evidenced that this tracer is mostly emitted in the fine fraction, and thus coarse K + could not be taken as an appropriate tracer of biomass burning.

KW - Agricultural residue

KW - Forest fire

KW - Levoglucosan

KW - Open burning

KW - Wildfire

U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.04.012

DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.04.012

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22554530

AN - SCOPUS:84861202901

VL - 427-428

SP - 175

EP - 190

JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

SN - 0048-9697

ER -