Measurements of mass concentration of particulate ammonium and sulphate in the atmosphere were carried out, in order to study the importance of soil surface on aerosol formation. The measurements were performed in an observatory along the eastern side of the Po Valley, surrounded by a large agricultural area in which a great use is made of fertilizers, almost all during cloudless sky conditions. The results obtained by the analysis of the temporal evolution of the hygroscopic materials investigated show: (1) higher concentrations relative to samplings carried out after fog conditions, (2) no significant relationship of concentrations with humidity and temperature, (3) rapid increase of concentrations going from wet to dry soil surface conditions, (4) a relationship with the wind intensity in conditions of dry soil surface, (5) concentrations very similar during day and night. On the basis of the meteorological conditions (which exclude, in many cases, advection of aerosols) and of these results, we infer that the ground dry surface is a probable source of aerosols which play an important role in the loss of visibility in fog conditions.
On the origin of aerosol in an agricultural area of the Po Valley
CORRADINI, Corrado;
1977
Abstract
Measurements of mass concentration of particulate ammonium and sulphate in the atmosphere were carried out, in order to study the importance of soil surface on aerosol formation. The measurements were performed in an observatory along the eastern side of the Po Valley, surrounded by a large agricultural area in which a great use is made of fertilizers, almost all during cloudless sky conditions. The results obtained by the analysis of the temporal evolution of the hygroscopic materials investigated show: (1) higher concentrations relative to samplings carried out after fog conditions, (2) no significant relationship of concentrations with humidity and temperature, (3) rapid increase of concentrations going from wet to dry soil surface conditions, (4) a relationship with the wind intensity in conditions of dry soil surface, (5) concentrations very similar during day and night. On the basis of the meteorological conditions (which exclude, in many cases, advection of aerosols) and of these results, we infer that the ground dry surface is a probable source of aerosols which play an important role in the loss of visibility in fog conditions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
