Temporal Variation of NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> in Rome (Italy) from Pandora and In Situ Measurements
To assess the best measures for the improvement of air quality, it is crucial to investigate in situ and columnar pollution levels. In this study, ground-based measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) and ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) collected in Rome (Italy) between 2017 a...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/3/594 |
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| author | Annalisa Di Bernardino Gabriele Mevi Anna Maria Iannarelli Serena Falasca Alexander Cede Martin Tiefengraber Stefano Casadio |
| author_facet | Annalisa Di Bernardino Gabriele Mevi Anna Maria Iannarelli Serena Falasca Alexander Cede Martin Tiefengraber Stefano Casadio |
| author_sort | Annalisa Di Bernardino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To assess the best measures for the improvement of air quality, it is crucial to investigate in situ and columnar pollution levels. In this study, ground-based measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) and ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) collected in Rome (Italy) between 2017 and 2022 are analyzed. Pandora sun-spectrometers provided the time series of the NO<sub>2</sub> vertical column density (VC-NO<sub>2</sub>), tropospheric column density (TC-NO<sub>2</sub>), near-surface concentration (SC-NO<sub>2</sub>), and the O<sub>3</sub> vertical column density (VC-O<sub>3</sub>). In situ concentrations of NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> are provided by an urban background air quality station. The results show a clear reduction of NO<sub>2</sub> over the years, thanks to the recent ecological transition policies, with marked seasonal variability, observable both by columnar and in situ data. Otherwise, O<sub>3</sub> does not show inter-annual variations, although a clear seasonal cycle is detectable. The results suggest that the variation of in situ O<sub>3</sub> is mainly imputable to photochemical reactions while, in the VC-O<sub>3</sub>, it is triggered by the predominant contribution of stratospheric O<sub>3</sub>. The outcomes highlight the importance of co-located in situ and columnar measurements in urban environments to investigate physical and chemical processes driving air pollution and to design tailored climate change adaptation strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:56:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5aa83e175b8142e5a00bc25dcfde27c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:56:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-5aa83e175b8142e5a00bc25dcfde27c72023-11-17T09:33:56ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332023-03-0114359410.3390/atmos14030594Temporal Variation of NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> in Rome (Italy) from Pandora and In Situ MeasurementsAnnalisa Di Bernardino0Gabriele Mevi1Anna Maria Iannarelli2Serena Falasca3Alexander Cede4Martin Tiefengraber5Stefano Casadio6Physics Department, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalySERCO Italia SpA, Frascati, 00044 Rome, ItalySERCO Italia SpA, Frascati, 00044 Rome, ItalyPhysics Department, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyLuftBlick, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaLuftBlick, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaSERCO Italia SpA, Frascati, 00044 Rome, ItalyTo assess the best measures for the improvement of air quality, it is crucial to investigate in situ and columnar pollution levels. In this study, ground-based measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) and ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) collected in Rome (Italy) between 2017 and 2022 are analyzed. Pandora sun-spectrometers provided the time series of the NO<sub>2</sub> vertical column density (VC-NO<sub>2</sub>), tropospheric column density (TC-NO<sub>2</sub>), near-surface concentration (SC-NO<sub>2</sub>), and the O<sub>3</sub> vertical column density (VC-O<sub>3</sub>). In situ concentrations of NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> are provided by an urban background air quality station. The results show a clear reduction of NO<sub>2</sub> over the years, thanks to the recent ecological transition policies, with marked seasonal variability, observable both by columnar and in situ data. Otherwise, O<sub>3</sub> does not show inter-annual variations, although a clear seasonal cycle is detectable. The results suggest that the variation of in situ O<sub>3</sub> is mainly imputable to photochemical reactions while, in the VC-O<sub>3</sub>, it is triggered by the predominant contribution of stratospheric O<sub>3</sub>. The outcomes highlight the importance of co-located in situ and columnar measurements in urban environments to investigate physical and chemical processes driving air pollution and to design tailored climate change adaptation strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/3/594atmospheric pollutionground-based remote sensingurban areasnitrogen dioxideozone |
| spellingShingle | Annalisa Di Bernardino Gabriele Mevi Anna Maria Iannarelli Serena Falasca Alexander Cede Martin Tiefengraber Stefano Casadio Temporal Variation of NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> in Rome (Italy) from Pandora and In Situ Measurements Atmosphere atmospheric pollution ground-based remote sensing urban areas nitrogen dioxide ozone |
| title | Temporal Variation of NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> in Rome (Italy) from Pandora and In Situ Measurements |
| title_full | Temporal Variation of NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> in Rome (Italy) from Pandora and In Situ Measurements |
| title_fullStr | Temporal Variation of NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> in Rome (Italy) from Pandora and In Situ Measurements |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal Variation of NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> in Rome (Italy) from Pandora and In Situ Measurements |
| title_short | Temporal Variation of NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> in Rome (Italy) from Pandora and In Situ Measurements |
| title_sort | temporal variation of no sub 2 sub and o sub 3 sub in rome italy from pandora and in situ measurements |
| topic | atmospheric pollution ground-based remote sensing urban areas nitrogen dioxide ozone |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/3/594 |
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