Nine years of UV aerosol optical depth measurements at Thessaloniki, Greece

Spectral measurements of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and the Ångström coefficient were conducted at Thessaloniki, Greece (40.5° N, 22.9° E) between January 1997 and December 2005 with a Brewer MKIII double-monochromator spectroradiometer. The dataset was compared with collocated measurements of a second spectroradiometer (Brewer MKII) and a CIMEL sun-photometer, showing correlations of 0.93 and 0.98, respectively. A seasonal variation of the AOD was observed at Thessaloniki, with AOD values at 340 nm of 0.52 and 0.28 for August and December respectively. Back trajectories of air masses for up to 4 days were used to assess the influence of long-range transport from various regions to the aerosol load over Thessaloniki. It is shown that part of the observed seasonality can be attributed to air masses with high AOD originating from North-Eastern and Eastern directions during summertime. The analysis of the long-term record (9 years) of AOD showed a downward tendency. A similar decreasing tendency was found in the record of the PM$_{10}$ aerosol measurements, which are conducted near the surface at 4 air-quality monitoring stations in the area of the city of Thessaloniki

The risks of acute exposure to black carbon in Southern Europe: Results from the med-particles project

Objectives: While several studies have reported associations of daily exposures to PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 μm) with mortality, few studies have examined the impact of its constituents such as black carbon (BC), which is also a significant contributor to global climate change. Methods: We assessed the association between daily concentrations of BC and total, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality in two southern Mediterranean cities. Daily averages of BC were collected for 2 years in Barcelona, Spain and Athens, Greece. We used case-crossover analysis and examined single and cumulative lags up to 3 days. Results: We observed associations between BC and all mortality measures. For a 3-day moving average, cardiovascular mortality increased by 4.5% (95% CI 0.7 to 8.5) and 2.0% (95% CI 0 to 4.0) for an interquartile change in BC in Athens and Barcelona, respectively. Considerably higher effects for respiratory mortality and for those above age 65 were observed. In addition, BC exhibited much greater toxicity per microgram than generic PM2.5. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that BC, derived in western industrialised nations primarily from diesel engines and biomass burning, poses a significant burden to public health, particularly in European cities with high-traffic density.Peer reviewe

Ca-rich garnets and associated symplectites in mafic peraluminous granulites from the Gföhl Nappe System, Austria

Mafic peraluminous granulites associated with the mantle-derived peridotites of the Dunkelsteiner Wald provide evidence of the tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Gföhl Nappe System, Austria. They contain the primary assemblage garnet + Al-rich clinopyroxene + kyanite. Large Ca- and Mg-rich garnets are embedded in a granoblastic matrix of Al-rich clinopyroxene, Ca-rich plagioclase and minor hornblende. They were partially replaced by different generations of symplectites: (a) corundum + sapphirine + spinel + plagioclase formed around kyanite inclusions, (b) orthopyroxene + spinel + plagioclase ± hornblende formed at their rims and (c) clinopyroxene + orthopyroxene + spinel + plagioclase ± hornblende formed within cracks. Large garnets show complex compositional structure comprising several repeatedly occurring garnet types, which are characterized by specific compositions. The areal extent and the cross-cutting relations observed in element distribution maps allowed for the derivation of the relative timing of the formation of the different garnet types. The compositional features of the garnets indicate post-formational modification by intra-crystalline diffusion and metasomatic agents. The garnet composition isopleths in equilibrium assemblage diagrams are in line with compositions modification as indicated by the element distribution maps. They confirm the deviation of composition from equilibrium for all garnet types. Furthermore, at least the youngest garnet types show evidence of metasomatic (Fe + Mg) loss affecting their Ca content. Pressure–temperature (P–T) estimates are based on equilibrium assemblage diagrams that reproduce satisfactorily the observed mineral assemblages and measured mineral compositions. Criteria for checking the existence of preserved equilibrium compositions are suggested. The results call into question the invariability of the assumption that the Ca content and/or zoning in garnet preserves primary P–T information from garnet growth in every case. Recrystallization and compositional readjustment of the reactive garnet volume during symplectite formation led to the development of pronounced, secondary diffusion-induced zoning profiles overprinting the different garnet types and post-dating the complex garnet compositional structure. The primary assemblage is stable between 760 and 880 °C and pressures > 11 kbar. The bulk composition of the crack symplectites is almost isochemical to the oldest, broken-down garnet type. These symplectites were formed above 730 °C and pressures between 5 and 7.5 kbar. The rocks studied underwent more or less isothermal decompression from pressures above 11 to ∼ 6 kbar at temperatures of about 800 °C. Crack and rim symplectites were formed after decompression during the early stage of approximately isobaric cooling under conditions of low differential stress. Due to limited availability of fluids promoting symplectite formation, the timescale of symplectite formation calculated from secondary diffusion profiles associated with crack symplectites is shown to be geologically very short (< 0.5 ka)

Synoptic and local scale atmospheric circulation associated with air pollution episodes in an urban Mediterranean area

Air pollution episodes in urban coastal areas follow certain pre-determined patterns, being associated with certain local meteorological conditions and emission of primary pollutants. In this study, the synoptic and local scale atmospheric circulation that prevails during air pollution episodes in a coastal major city in Greece, Thessaloniki, is examined for a period of 15 years (1989-2004). The study signifies the importance of studying air pollution meteorological patterns between coastal areas with different terrain characteristics. For Thessaloniki, it was found that the episodes occur mainly during the cold period of the year, while four types of synoptic scale circulation were recognized (I, II, III, IV) and five patterns of the local scale circulation (A1, A2, B1, B2 and B3). The highest percentage of episodes is associated with the presence of an anticyclone over the northern Greece (types I and IV), being characterized by weak or very weak surface pressure gradient intensity, according to the position and extension of the anticyclone. Moreover, a temperature increase of at least 1°C during the previous 3 days is required in the lower troposphere. Consistent with the synoptic conditions, the development of the sea breeze plays a crucial role in the occurrence of the episodes, even in the cold period of the year, when the sea breeze can still develop with smaller frequency and intensity. Finally, it was found that a small number of episodes is related with the advection of polluted air masses from the industrial area in the northwest of the city and from the Eordaia area in the west, which is the largest lignite producing area of Balkans. © Springer-Verlag 2008

Nine years of UV aerosol optical depth measurements at Thessaloniki, Greece

Spectral measurements of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and the Ångström coefficient were conducted at Thessaloniki, Greece (40.5° N, 22.9° E) between January 1997 and December 2005 with a Brewer MKIII double-monochromator spectroradiometer. The dataset was compared with collocated measurements of a second spectroradiometer (Brewer MKII) and a CIMEL sun-photometer, showing correlations of 0.93 and 0.98, respectively. A seasonal variation of the AOD was observed at Thessaloniki, with AOD values at 340 nm of 0.52 and 0.28 for August and December respectively. Back trajectories of air masses for up to 4 days were used to assess the influence of long-range transport from various regions to the aerosol load over Thessaloniki. It is shown that part of the observed seasonality can be attributed to air masses with high AOD originating from North-Eastern and Eastern directions during summer-time. The analysis of the long-term record (9 years) of AOD showed a downward tendency. A similar decreasing tendency was found in the record of the PM10 aerosol measurements, which are conducted near the surface at 4 air-quality monitoring stations in the area of the city of Thessaloniki