CIAO - CNR-IMAA Atmospheric Observatory: first intensive aerosol remote sensing and in-situ integration campaign

Human health, air quality, atmospheric visibility, and climate are affected by aerosol particles. In order to understand these effects, the study of their physical and chemical characteristics are highly needed.Ground based in-situ and remote sensing measurement platforms are crucial tools for continuous monitoring and evaluation of air quality.

At the Istituto di Metodologie per l’Analisi Ambientale of the Italian National Research Council (CNR-IMAA) the advanced atmospheric observatory, named CIAO, has recently been upgraded with the aerosol in-situ observational component, thus complementing the high-quality long-term remote sensing observations of aerosol gained over more than two decades of research activity.

CIAO is located in Tito Scalo, Potenza, Southern Italy (40.60° N, 15.72° E, 760 m asl) in a plain surrounded by low mountains, less than 150 km from the West, South and East coasts. It operates in a typical mountain weather strongly influenced by Mediterranean atmospheric circulation, resulting in generally dry, hot summers and cold winters. Due to its features, the site is particularly interesting for studying aerosol properties, especially those of natural origin such as desert dust, volcanic aerosol and biomass burning.

The new aerosol in-situ facility at CIAO observatory, founded by an Italian project (PER-ACTRIS-IT), has been proposed as ACTRIS (Aerosol Clouds and Trace Gases Research InfraStructure) National Facility observational platform and allows the measurements of various aerosol in-situ physical and chemical variables: Particle number concentration > 10 nm; Particle number size distribution – mobility diameter 10 to 800 nm; Particle light scattering & backscattering coefficient; Particle light absorption coefficient and equivalent black carbon concentration and particle chemical - elemental composition.

Following this recent update, the first intensive aerosol remote sensing and in-situ integration campaign at CIAO has been planned for March 2024.

First results will be presented and discussed during the conference, focusing attention on the importance of in-situ aerosol measurements as they represent the only way to evaluate the chemical-physical characteristics of the aerosol at ground level and provide a better view of the aerosol sources observed particles and also how in-situ measurements together with aerosol profiling enable better understanding of the vertical transport processes of particles to the surface.

 

Acknowledgements:

MIUR (Italian Ministry of University) PON Ricerca e Innovazione 2014-2020 – PER-ACTRIS-IT – “Potenziamento della componente italiana dell'Infrastruttura di Ricerca Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research”

CIR01_00015 - PER-ACTRIS-IT “Potenziamento della componente italiana della Infrastruttura di Ricerca Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure - Rafforzamento del capitale umano” - Avviso MUR D.D. n. 2595 del 24.12.2019 Piano Stralcio “Ricerca e Innovazione 2015-2017”

IR0000032 – ITINERIS, Italian Integrated Environmental Research Infrastructures System (D.D. n. 130/2022 - CUP B53C22002150006) Funded by EU - Next Generation EU PNRR- Mission 4 “Education and Research” - Component 2: “From research to business” - Investment 3.1: “Fund for the realisation of an integrated system of research and innovation infrastructures”