The role of meteorology on different sized aerosol fractions (PM10, PM2.5, PM2.5–10)

The scope of the present study is to assess the influence of meteorology on different diameter particles (PM10, PM2.5, PM2.5–10) during a 53 months long experimental campaign at an urban Mediterranean area. Except for the investigation of the wind, temperature and relative humidity role, day by day synoptic conditions were classified over the Attica peninsula in order to explore as well, the role of the synoptic scale atmospheric circulation. The strong dependence of the aerosols character on their various sources, not only explain the different diameter particles behavior and their differentiation with the inorganic pollutants but also highlights the need for an effective emission policy. High PM10 and PM2.5–10 concentrations found to be closely related to the southwesterly regime, suggesting long range transport from the ‘polluted’ south sector while the general prevalence of the secondary particles generation revealed the health hazard. PM2.5 showed a weaker correlation than the bigger particles with both the circulation patterns and the parameters' fluctuations. Temporal pollutants variations were clearly governed by the emissions patterns while the low wind speed was not necessarily a good indicator of high concentration levels. Finally it was found that only during the open/close anticyclonic days and the southwesterly wind regime the morning levels were continuously higher than those of the night.

► Aerosols behavior is greatly governed by the emission patterns.
► PM2.5 were less susceptible to the meteorological changes than PM2.5–10 or PM10.
► The secondary PM formation prevailed due to the enhanced anthropogenic activities.
► Temperature increase, enhances the concentrations of aerosols.
► Low wind speed is not necessarily an indicator of particulate episodes.