An outbreak of Saharan dust causing high PM10 levels north of the Alps

作者：Bruckmann P^*; Birmili W; Straub W; Pitz M; Gladtke D; Pfeffer U; Hebbinghaus H; Wurzler S; Olschewski A

来源：Gefahrstoffe Reinhaltung der Luft, 2008, 68(11-12): 490-498.

A pronounced episode of long range transport of Saharan dust occurred from May 27 to June 1 2008, Elevated PM10 concentrations were observed as the particle cloud travelled from Southern France via parts of Italy, Switzerland and Austria to North-West Germany. The main transport of Saharan dust occurred aloft, leading to an uneven distribution of elevated PM10 concentrations at the ground. While most of Austria was affected near ground level, elevated PM10 burdens in Switzerland were only measured at two alpine stations. Chemical analyses and comparison of PM2.5/PM10 ratios revealed a change in the PM10 composition during the transport. While the high PM10 levels in the alpine region were mainly due to Saharan dust, visible in the high amount of PM10 and almost no change in PM2.5, the PM10 maxima in North-West Germany were mainly caused by secondary aerosol and a smaller but still significant share of dust particles. This is confirmed by maxima in the PM2.5 fraction occuring at the same time as the PM10 maxima and a high amount of ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate identified by chemical speciation. The exceedances of the European PM10 daily limit value during the episode can thus predominantly be assigned to natural sources in the Alpine region and in Bavaria, but only to a smaller part in North-Western Germany.

• 出版日期2008-12