The cause-effect relationship between synoptic and local wind patterns and PM10 concentrations in the complex-orography urban area of Naples (Italy)

This study examines the relationship between the temporal variability of PM10 concentrations and synoptic and local wind patterns in Naples over a four-year period (2018, 2020–2022). PM10 data were collected from three monitoring stations (IT1493, IT1491, and IT1497), representing different atmosphe...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: M.A Hernández-Ceballos, M. Rubino, C. Sirignano, E. Chianese, A Riccio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:City and Environment Interactions
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590252025000145
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850260480936902656
author M.A Hernández-Ceballos
M. Rubino
C. Sirignano
E. Chianese
A Riccio
author_facet M.A Hernández-Ceballos
M. Rubino
C. Sirignano
E. Chianese
A Riccio
author_sort M.A Hernández-Ceballos
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the relationship between the temporal variability of PM10 concentrations and synoptic and local wind patterns in Naples over a four-year period (2018, 2020–2022). PM10 data were collected from three monitoring stations (IT1493, IT1491, and IT1497), representing different atmospheric pollution conditions: suburban traffic, urban traffic, and background, respectively. The mean PM10 concentrations recorded at these stations were 33.3 ± 0.5 µg/m3, 32.1 ± 0.4 µg/m3, and 27.4 ± 0.3 µg/m3, all remaining below the EU annual limit of 40 µg/m3. However, extreme daily peaks during the sampling period reached 203.1 µg/m3 at the suburban site, 128.6 µg/m3 at the urban site, and 129 µg/m3 at the background site, indicating severe pollution episodes. The intradiurnal cycle showed a bimodal pattern in PM10 concentrations at the urban and suburban sites, with peaks occurring in the morning and evening, coinciding with traffic activity. In contrast, the background site showed a flatter profile, suggesting a weaker influence of local sources. The occurrence of high concentrations is mainly registered in winter. A backward trajectory analysis using the HYSPLIT model identified eight dominant synoptic airflow patterns, with nearby, westerly, and northerly flows being the most frequent. Notably, nearby airflows—often associated with sea-land breeze circulations, as it is observed by analyzing surface winds—were responsible for 75 % of the exceedances of the EU daily limit of 50 µg/m3, highlighting their role in pollutant accumulation and restricted dispersion. These findings underscore the critical influence of local wind circulation and large-scale transport mechanisms on air quality in Naples. They emphasize the need for integrated air quality management strategies that address both local emissions and regional transport processes to develop effective mitigation policies for Mediterranean coastal cities.
format Article
id doaj-art-824c6cf2384a485ba067c103ce1b2f4f
institution OA Journals
issn 2590-2520
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series City and Environment Interactions
spelling doaj-art-824c6cf2384a485ba067c103ce1b2f4f2025-08-20T01:55:38ZengElsevierCity and Environment Interactions2590-25202025-08-012710020010.1016/j.cacint.2025.100200The cause-effect relationship between synoptic and local wind patterns and PM10 concentrations in the complex-orography urban area of Naples (Italy)M.A Hernández-Ceballos0M. Rubino1C. Sirignano2E. Chianese3A Riccio4Department of Physics, University of Cordoba, Spain; Corresponding author.University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Mathematics and Physics, viale Lincoln, 5 81100 CASERTA, ItalyInstitute of Atmospheric Science and Climate (ISAC), National Research Council (CNR), 0133 Rome, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), 90133 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Science and Technology, Parthenope University of Naples, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Science and Technology, Parthenope University of Naples, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Naples, ItalyThis study examines the relationship between the temporal variability of PM10 concentrations and synoptic and local wind patterns in Naples over a four-year period (2018, 2020–2022). PM10 data were collected from three monitoring stations (IT1493, IT1491, and IT1497), representing different atmospheric pollution conditions: suburban traffic, urban traffic, and background, respectively. The mean PM10 concentrations recorded at these stations were 33.3 ± 0.5 µg/m3, 32.1 ± 0.4 µg/m3, and 27.4 ± 0.3 µg/m3, all remaining below the EU annual limit of 40 µg/m3. However, extreme daily peaks during the sampling period reached 203.1 µg/m3 at the suburban site, 128.6 µg/m3 at the urban site, and 129 µg/m3 at the background site, indicating severe pollution episodes. The intradiurnal cycle showed a bimodal pattern in PM10 concentrations at the urban and suburban sites, with peaks occurring in the morning and evening, coinciding with traffic activity. In contrast, the background site showed a flatter profile, suggesting a weaker influence of local sources. The occurrence of high concentrations is mainly registered in winter. A backward trajectory analysis using the HYSPLIT model identified eight dominant synoptic airflow patterns, with nearby, westerly, and northerly flows being the most frequent. Notably, nearby airflows—often associated with sea-land breeze circulations, as it is observed by analyzing surface winds—were responsible for 75 % of the exceedances of the EU daily limit of 50 µg/m3, highlighting their role in pollutant accumulation and restricted dispersion. These findings underscore the critical influence of local wind circulation and large-scale transport mechanisms on air quality in Naples. They emphasize the need for integrated air quality management strategies that address both local emissions and regional transport processes to develop effective mitigation policies for Mediterranean coastal cities.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590252025000145PM10Air qualityNaplesIntradiurnal cyclesAir mass trajectoriesRegional transport
spellingShingle M.A Hernández-Ceballos
M. Rubino
C. Sirignano
E. Chianese
A Riccio
The cause-effect relationship between synoptic and local wind patterns and PM10 concentrations in the complex-orography urban area of Naples (Italy)
City and Environment Interactions
PM10
Air quality
Naples
Intradiurnal cycles
Air mass trajectories
Regional transport
title The cause-effect relationship between synoptic and local wind patterns and PM10 concentrations in the complex-orography urban area of Naples (Italy)
title_full The cause-effect relationship between synoptic and local wind patterns and PM10 concentrations in the complex-orography urban area of Naples (Italy)
title_fullStr The cause-effect relationship between synoptic and local wind patterns and PM10 concentrations in the complex-orography urban area of Naples (Italy)
title_full_unstemmed The cause-effect relationship between synoptic and local wind patterns and PM10 concentrations in the complex-orography urban area of Naples (Italy)
title_short The cause-effect relationship between synoptic and local wind patterns and PM10 concentrations in the complex-orography urban area of Naples (Italy)
title_sort cause effect relationship between synoptic and local wind patterns and pm10 concentrations in the complex orography urban area of naples italy
topic PM10
Air quality
Naples
Intradiurnal cycles
Air mass trajectories
Regional transport
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590252025000145
work_keys_str_mv AT mahernandezceballos thecauseeffectrelationshipbetweensynopticandlocalwindpatternsandpm10concentrationsinthecomplexorographyurbanareaofnaplesitaly
AT mrubino thecauseeffectrelationshipbetweensynopticandlocalwindpatternsandpm10concentrationsinthecomplexorographyurbanareaofnaplesitaly
AT csirignano thecauseeffectrelationshipbetweensynopticandlocalwindpatternsandpm10concentrationsinthecomplexorographyurbanareaofnaplesitaly
AT echianese thecauseeffectrelationshipbetweensynopticandlocalwindpatternsandpm10concentrationsinthecomplexorographyurbanareaofnaplesitaly
AT ariccio thecauseeffectrelationshipbetweensynopticandlocalwindpatternsandpm10concentrationsinthecomplexorographyurbanareaofnaplesitaly
AT mahernandezceballos causeeffectrelationshipbetweensynopticandlocalwindpatternsandpm10concentrationsinthecomplexorographyurbanareaofnaplesitaly
AT mrubino causeeffectrelationshipbetweensynopticandlocalwindpatternsandpm10concentrationsinthecomplexorographyurbanareaofnaplesitaly
AT csirignano causeeffectrelationshipbetweensynopticandlocalwindpatternsandpm10concentrationsinthecomplexorographyurbanareaofnaplesitaly
AT echianese causeeffectrelationshipbetweensynopticandlocalwindpatternsandpm10concentrationsinthecomplexorographyurbanareaofnaplesitaly
AT ariccio causeeffectrelationshipbetweensynopticandlocalwindpatternsandpm10concentrationsinthecomplexorographyurbanareaofnaplesitaly