a 12 year study of atmospheric pollution in the central mediterranean
TRANSCRIPT
Giordan Lighthouse
Summary of
A Study of Atmospheric Pollution in
the Central Mediterranean
Raymond Ellul
Physics Department
University of Malta
Msida MSD 2080
Malta
Atmospheric Research
University Gozo Campus
Mgarr Road
Xewkija XWK 9016
Gozo
Principal Collaborators and Co Workers
• Dr Hans Gϋsten Institut fϋr Meteorologie und Klimaforschung, Karlsruhe,
• Dr Gϋnther Heinrich Germany.
• Dr Michael Nolle Physics Department, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080,
• Mr Martin Saliba ` Malta.
• Dr S Nickovic ICOD, FIS, University of Malta, Valletta, Malta.
• Dr Marie Dominique Unite de Biogeochemie Marine, Ecole Normale Superiore
• Loye – Pilot Paris, France.
• Dr P Kalabokas Academy of Athens, Research Centre for Atmospheric
Physics and Climatology, Athens, Greece.
• Prof. J Lelieveld Max Planck Institut fϋr Chemie, Mainz, Germany.
• Prof. P Crutzen
Equipment donors; special Thanks to:
•Max Planck Institut fϋr Chemie, Mainz.
•IMK, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe.
•International Bϋro - Jϋlich/ Bonn.
Pollution in the Mediterranean
• Natural Causes:
• Dust events from North Africa
• Volcanic emissions
• Anthropogenic sources:
• Emissions from population centres
• Ships’ traffic
• Imported pollution
The Location of the GAW background station on the island of Gozo, Malta
Station Coordinates
Lat: 36.073o N
Lon: 14.219o E
Alt: 167 metres, a.s.l
• Population of Malta
410,290 (End 2007, NSO)
• Area 315 sq km
• 93 km South of Sicily
• Population of Gozo
31,053 (End 2007, NSO)
• Area 67 sq km
• 5 km NW of Malta
M Saliba 2009
Instruments and Measurements Preliminary measurements of surface ozone and carbon monoxide mixing ratios together with meteorological parameters started in early 1997. In 2004 a sulphur dioxide analyser was also installed.
The list below represents the analysers used to monitor the trace gases at the Giordan lighthouse GAW station:
Dasibi RS 1008
Dasibi AH 1006
Environnement O341M
Horiba APMA-350E
Teledyne ML 9850
Ozone analyser
Ozone analyser
Ozone analyser
Carbon monoxide analyser
Sulphur dioxide analyser
(1997)
(2006)
(1997)
(2004)
Meteorological Sensors:
Vaisala 50Y
Lambrecht anemometer 14512
Vaisala PTB 101 B
Temperature & RH sensor
Wind speed and direction
Pressure sensor
Local wind and RH data
The annual wind rose (1997 – 2008).
The length of each bar represents the
total percentage of occurrence of that
wind range.
The prevailing wind direction on the
Maltese islands is the west-north-west
(~ 31% of all annual wind rose). The
most common wind speed 2-5 m/s is
from NW direction with maximum to 30
m/s recorded.
Relative Humidity and Dew Point 1997 - 2008, Giordan Lighthouse
50
60
70
80
90
100
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Month
Re
lati
ve
Hu
mid
ity
(in
%)
0
5
10
15
20
25
De
w P
oin
t (i
n o
C)
RH Dew Point
Relative humidity is very high and ranges
between 70% to 80%
Maximum in April with a secondary maximum in
October.
Minimum in June
Monthly averages of Ozone mixing ratio versus wind direction and month of year.
M Saliba, M Nolle and R Ellul. Data from 1997 - 2008
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
190
200
210
220
230
240
250
260
270
280
290
300
310
320
330
340
350
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Wind direction
Month
Ozone Data 1997 - 2008, Giordan Lighthouse
40-42 42-44 44-46 46-48 48-50 50-52 52-54 54-56 56-58 58-60
Annual variation of Ozone Concentration at
Giordan lighthouse (1997 – 2006).
Saliba et. al. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry Vol 60, Pg 117 (2008)
Ozone data 1997 - 2008, Giordan Lighthouse
22.0
8.8
22.2 20.8 21.1
25.321.8
7.9
19.8
91.5
97.3
92.7
88.1
70.0
17.819.4
15.3
91.5
76.7
89.5
95.498.0
98.3
85.4
48.551.6
56.252.2
43.246.7
49.949.8
50.9 49.6 49.750.0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Ozo
ne
(in
pp
bv
)
-1.9
-0.3
-0.3
M Saliba (2009)
Comparison of Carbon Monoxide and Sulphur Dioxide
concentrations over the Maltese Islands.
Saliba et. al. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry, Vol 60, Pg 117 (2008)
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
0 40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360
Wind direction (degrees)
CO
mix
ing
ra
tio
s (
pp
bv
)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Wind sector
SO
2 m
ixin
g r
ati
os
(p
pb
v)
CO SO2
1 2 3 4 5 6
Comparison of Ozone, Carbon monoxide and
Sulphur dioxide concentrations measured at
Giordan lighthouse.
Saliba et. al. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry, Vol 60, Pg 117 (2008)
Pre industrial and Modern Ozone
concentrations.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Ozo
ne
Mix
ing
-ra
tio
at
Xe
wk
ija
(in
pp
bv
)
0
2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
Ozo
ne
Mix
ing
-ra
tio
at
Vic
tori
a
(in
pp
bv
)
Xewkija, (1997 - 2001)
Victoria, (1884 - 1900)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Nolle et. al. Atmospheric Environment Vol 39, Pg 5608-5618, (2005)
Summary of our findings at GAW
station Giordan lighthouse. • Ozone concentrations have probably increased by a factor of 4 – 5 over the last century.
• Ozone concentrations in the Central Mediterranean show a present day median value of around
50 ppbv – One of the highest in the Northern hemisphere with a correspondingly serious effect on
local crop losses.
• Many anthropogenic events appear to originate from Sicily and Europe.
• The Carbon monoxide concentration shows a typical Northern hemisphere variation with many
Anthropogenic events being identified originating in Northern and Southern Europe.
• The Sulphur dioxide background is high with peaks both from the direction of the main island of
Malta as well as the Malta – Sicily channel and possibly Etna.
• The Ships’ traffic in the Malta – Sicily channel needs to be quantified and the emissions
measured. International action needs to be taken to limit these emissions.
New GAW Station at Giordan
Lighthouse As of December 2010 we have effectively established a new station at Giordan
lighthouse with the following instruments:
Ozone monitor from Thermoelectron with LDL of 1.0 ppbv.
Sulphur Dioxide monitor from Thermoelectron with a LDL of 0.05 ppbv.
Nitrogen Oxides analyser from Thermoelectron with LDL in the ppt region.
Carbon Monoxide analyser from Aero Laser with LDL of 2 ppbv.
Calibration system and Zero air generator from Thermoelectron for the above trace
gases.
Wide range Aerosol spectrometer to measure in the range 10 nm to 10 microns in 72
separate channels; this consists of an SMPS, OPC and CPC plus MAAP to measure
Black Carbon. This was built from Grimm and TSI parts by Institute for Tropospheric
research in Leipzig, Germany.
Radon – 222 detector from Tracer lab, Cologne, Germany.
Two Low Volume samplers from Leckel.
Giordan Lighthouse instruments
- continued • Lambrecht and Vector - Cup and Vane anemometers.
• Gill, 50 Hz 3D Ultrasonic anemometer.
• Vaisala Temperature and RH and Pressure sensors.
• At Xewkija we also have three radiation sensors SP-Lite, CMP-3, CMP-6 from Kipp
and Zonen plus Lambrecht and Young anemometers.
• We are also planning to add, under a Malta – Italy funds structural funds agreement:
• Aethelometer from McGee.
• Present Weather sensor from Campbell.
• Aerosol Optical Depth photometer from Cimel.
• Ultra microbalance for use with LVS’s.
• Picarro CRDS for CO2, CH4 and H2O.
• VOC ‘s Gas Chromatograph analyser for C2 – C5 Hydrocarbons.
• Possibly LIDAR for Volcanic Ash.
Data Logging
• Data logging of all instruments and
Meteorological parameters is being
undertaken at the Xewkija, Gozo base
station server and also at Air Monitors Ltd.
UK server.
• All data are being made available to the
GAW community.
Hurricane force winds on the 18th February 2011; maximum wind
speed of over 39 metres per second (140 km/ hr) reached
Trace gases as measured at Giordan Lighthouse when wind was
from South East over Malta on the 17th February 2011
MAAP when wind was from South East over Malta on the 17th
February 2011
Staff
• Martin Saliba – Technical Officer
• Francelle Farrugia - Research Officer
• Miriam Azzopardi – Technical administrator
• One other position for Research Officer vacant
Giordan Lighthouse - Gozo
M Saliba 2009