Number size distributions and seasonality of submicron particles in Europe 2008-2009

• Published in: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
• Main Authors: Asmi, A., Wiedensohler, A., Laj, P., Fjaeraa, A.-M., Sellegri, K., Birmili, W., Weingartner, E., Baltensperger, U., Zdimal, V., Zikova, N., Putaud, J.-P., Marinoni, A., Tunved, P., Hansson, H.-C., Fiebig, M., Kivekas, N., Lihavainen, H., Asmi, E., Ulevičius, Vidmantas, Aalto, Pasi P., Swietlicki, E., Kristensson, A., Mihalopoulos, N., Kalivitis, N., Kalapov, I., Kiss, G., Leeuw, G. de, Henzing, B., Harrison, R.M., Beddows, D., O'Dowd, C., Jennings, Gerard S., Flentje, H., Weinhold, K., Meinhardt, F., Ries, L., Kulmala, M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Lithuanian; English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Aerosol number concentration and size distribution; Aitken and accumulation modes; Central European aerosol; Northern European aerosol; Aitken; Arctic; Svalbard
• Online Access: http://ftmc.lvb.lt/FTMC:ELABAPDB6043538&prefLang=en_US

The European submicron aerosol was divided into characteristic types: Central European aerosol, characterized by single mode median size distributions, unimodal number concentration histograms and low variability in CCN-sized aerosol number concentrations; Nordic aerosol with low number concentrations, although showing pronounced seasonal variation of especially Aitken mode particles; Mountain sites (altitude over 1000ma.s.l.) with a strong seasonal cycle in aerosol number concentrations, high variability, and very low median number concentrations. Southern and Western European regions had fewer stations, which decreases the regional coverage of these results. Aerosol number concentrations over the Britain and Ireland had very high variance and there are indications of mixed air masses from several source regions; the Mediterranean aerosol exhibit high seasonality, and a strong accumulation mode in the summer. The greatest concentrations were observed at the Ispra station in Northern Italy with high accumulation mode number concentrations in the winter. The aerosol number concentrations at the Arctic station Zeppelin in Ny-Alesund in Svalbard have also a strong seasonal cycle, with greater concentrations of accumulation mode particles in winter, and dominating summer Aitken mode indicating more recently formed particles. Observed particles did not show any statistically significant regional work-week or weekday related variation in number concentrations studied. Analysis products are made for open-access to the research community, available in a freely accessible internet site. The results give to the modelling community a reliable, easy-touse and freely available comparison dataset of aerosol size distributions.