Spatial and temporal variability of carbonaceous aerosols: Assessing the impact of biomass burning in the urban environment

Biomass burning (BB) is a significant source of atmospheric particles in many parts of the world. Whereas many studies have demonstrated the importance of BB emissions in central and northern Europe, especially in rural areas, its impact in urban air quality of southern European countries has been s...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2017-02, Vol.578, p.613-625
Main Authors: Titos, G., del Águila, A., Cazorla, A., Lyamani, H., Casquero-Vera, J.A., Colombi, C., Cuccia, E., Gianelle, V., Močnik, G., Alastuey, A., Olmo, F.J., Alados-Arboledas, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aethalometer
Biomass burning
Carbonaceous matter
Fossil fuel
Ångström exponent
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Biomass burning (BB) is a significant source of atmospheric particles in many parts of the world. Whereas many studies have demonstrated the importance of BB emissions in central and northern Europe, especially in rural areas, its impact in urban air quality of southern European countries has been sparsely investigated. In this study, highly time resolved multi-wavelength absorption coefficients together with levoglucosan (BB tracer) mass concentrations were combined to apportion carbonaceous aerosol sources. The Aethalometer model takes advantage of the different spectral behavior of BB and fossil fuel (FF) combustion aerosols. The model was found to be more sensitive to the assumed value of the aerosol Ångström exponent (AAE) for FF (AAEff) than to the AAE for BB (AAEbb). As result of various sensitivity tests the model was optimized with AAEff=1.1 and AAEbb=2. The Aethalometer model and levoglucosan tracer estimates were in good agreement. The Aethalometer model was further applied to data from three sites in Granada urban area to evaluate the spatial variation of CMff and CMbb (carbonaceous matter from FF or BB origin, respectively) concentrations within the city. The results showed that CMbb was lower in the city centre while it has an unexpected profound impact on the CM levels measured in the suburbs (about 40%). Analysis of BB tracers with respect to wind speed suggested that BB was dominated by sources outside the city, to the west in a rural area. Distinguishing whether it corresponds to agricultural waste burning or with biomass burning for domestic heating was not possible. This study also shows that although traffic restrictions measures contribute to reduce carbonaceous concentrations, the extent of the reduction is very local. Other sources such as BB, which can contribute to CM as much as traffic emissions, should be targeted to reduce air pollution. [Display omitted] •Biomass burning impact in southern Europe urban air quality sparsely investigated.•Levoglucosan tracer and online real-time Aethalometer methods have been applied.•High contribution of biomass burning during winter in the suburban area.•Lower contribution of biomass burning in the city center.
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.007