Saharan Dust Events over the Valencian Community (Eastern Iberian Peninsula): Synoptic Circulation Patterns and Contribution to PM10 Levels
Abstract This study assessed Saharan dust events (SDE) passing over the Valencian Community (VC; eastern Spain) during the period of 2014−2017 by investigating the following topics: a) the occurrence of SDE and their impact on PM10 mass concentrations, b) the identification of the favorable synoptic...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2020-06-01
|
| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.01.0038 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823862893713555456 |
|---|---|
| author | Ariadna Huerta-Viso Javier Crespo Nuria Galindo Eduardo Yubero Jose Francisco Nicolás |
| author_facet | Ariadna Huerta-Viso Javier Crespo Nuria Galindo Eduardo Yubero Jose Francisco Nicolás |
| author_sort | Ariadna Huerta-Viso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study assessed Saharan dust events (SDE) passing over the Valencian Community (VC; eastern Spain) during the period of 2014−2017 by investigating the following topics: a) the occurrence of SDE and their impact on PM10 mass concentrations, b) the identification of the favorable synoptic patterns at 850 hPa associated with SDE via cluster analysis and c) the applicability of the gamma probability density function (PDF) in fitting the mass contributions of SDE. We determined that these events affect the VC on ~26% of the days of the year, thereby contributing 3.3 µg m−3 (~23%) to the average PM10 concentration. Five circulation scenarios were identified. In Scenario 1 (17.4%), the transport of Saharan dust was due to the combination of a trough situated over the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula and a high-pressure system centered on western Algeria, Tunisia and eastern Libya. According to the PDF analysis, SDE characterized by this type of pattern were the most likely to substantially increase PM10 mass concentrations. In Scenarios 3 (39.2%) and 5 (19.4%), which contributed to high concentrations of mineral dust in the VC, a high-pressure system was located over North Africa. Scenarios 1, 3 and 5 occurred more frequently during summer, especially Scenario 3 (69%). On the other hand, Scenarios 2 (16.2%) and 4 (7.2%), both characterized by a deep low over the west or northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, typically arose during spring and, to a lesser extent, winter. These two scenarios displayed a lower probability of elevating mineral dust levels in the study area. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6c351f61190a4f9b888b8083d1db268e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-6c351f61190a4f9b888b8083d1db268e2025-02-09T12:19:15ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092020-06-0120112519252810.4209/aaqr.2020.01.0038Saharan Dust Events over the Valencian Community (Eastern Iberian Peninsula): Synoptic Circulation Patterns and Contribution to PM10 LevelsAriadna Huerta-Viso0Javier Crespo1Nuria Galindo2Eduardo Yubero3Jose Francisco Nicolás4Atmospheric Pollution Laboratory (LCA), Department of Applied Physics, Miguel Hernández UniversityAtmospheric Pollution Laboratory (LCA), Department of Applied Physics, Miguel Hernández UniversityAtmospheric Pollution Laboratory (LCA), Department of Applied Physics, Miguel Hernández UniversityAtmospheric Pollution Laboratory (LCA), Department of Applied Physics, Miguel Hernández UniversityAtmospheric Pollution Laboratory (LCA), Department of Applied Physics, Miguel Hernández UniversityAbstract This study assessed Saharan dust events (SDE) passing over the Valencian Community (VC; eastern Spain) during the period of 2014−2017 by investigating the following topics: a) the occurrence of SDE and their impact on PM10 mass concentrations, b) the identification of the favorable synoptic patterns at 850 hPa associated with SDE via cluster analysis and c) the applicability of the gamma probability density function (PDF) in fitting the mass contributions of SDE. We determined that these events affect the VC on ~26% of the days of the year, thereby contributing 3.3 µg m−3 (~23%) to the average PM10 concentration. Five circulation scenarios were identified. In Scenario 1 (17.4%), the transport of Saharan dust was due to the combination of a trough situated over the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula and a high-pressure system centered on western Algeria, Tunisia and eastern Libya. According to the PDF analysis, SDE characterized by this type of pattern were the most likely to substantially increase PM10 mass concentrations. In Scenarios 3 (39.2%) and 5 (19.4%), which contributed to high concentrations of mineral dust in the VC, a high-pressure system was located over North Africa. Scenarios 1, 3 and 5 occurred more frequently during summer, especially Scenario 3 (69%). On the other hand, Scenarios 2 (16.2%) and 4 (7.2%), both characterized by a deep low over the west or northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, typically arose during spring and, to a lesser extent, winter. These two scenarios displayed a lower probability of elevating mineral dust levels in the study area.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.01.0038PM10Meteorological scenarioCluster analysisSaharan dustGamma distribution |
| spellingShingle | Ariadna Huerta-Viso Javier Crespo Nuria Galindo Eduardo Yubero Jose Francisco Nicolás Saharan Dust Events over the Valencian Community (Eastern Iberian Peninsula): Synoptic Circulation Patterns and Contribution to PM10 Levels Aerosol and Air Quality Research PM10 Meteorological scenario Cluster analysis Saharan dust Gamma distribution |
| title | Saharan Dust Events over the Valencian Community (Eastern Iberian Peninsula): Synoptic Circulation Patterns and Contribution to PM10 Levels |
| title_full | Saharan Dust Events over the Valencian Community (Eastern Iberian Peninsula): Synoptic Circulation Patterns and Contribution to PM10 Levels |
| title_fullStr | Saharan Dust Events over the Valencian Community (Eastern Iberian Peninsula): Synoptic Circulation Patterns and Contribution to PM10 Levels |
| title_full_unstemmed | Saharan Dust Events over the Valencian Community (Eastern Iberian Peninsula): Synoptic Circulation Patterns and Contribution to PM10 Levels |
| title_short | Saharan Dust Events over the Valencian Community (Eastern Iberian Peninsula): Synoptic Circulation Patterns and Contribution to PM10 Levels |
| title_sort | saharan dust events over the valencian community eastern iberian peninsula synoptic circulation patterns and contribution to pm10 levels |
| topic | PM10 Meteorological scenario Cluster analysis Saharan dust Gamma distribution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.01.0038 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ariadnahuertaviso saharandusteventsoverthevalenciancommunityeasterniberianpeninsulasynopticcirculationpatternsandcontributiontopm10levels AT javiercrespo saharandusteventsoverthevalenciancommunityeasterniberianpeninsulasynopticcirculationpatternsandcontributiontopm10levels AT nuriagalindo saharandusteventsoverthevalenciancommunityeasterniberianpeninsulasynopticcirculationpatternsandcontributiontopm10levels AT eduardoyubero saharandusteventsoverthevalenciancommunityeasterniberianpeninsulasynopticcirculationpatternsandcontributiontopm10levels AT josefrancisconicolas saharandusteventsoverthevalenciancommunityeasterniberianpeninsulasynopticcirculationpatternsandcontributiontopm10levels |