Study of aerosol particle transport by means of particulate-matter elemental composition

Summary Results of two measurement campaigns on particulate-matter concentration and composition aimed at studying dispersion and transport of aerosol particles in areas of different typology are reported. Local and regional aerosol transport affects particulate-matter concentration in a rural prealpine area, in particular the regional background is a main component of sulphur compounds. A long-range transport episodic event has been also detected. In the urban area of Milan, under good mixing conditions, the concentration of particulate matter has been found to be nearly constant up to 100 metres. The measurements of elemental-concentration values for a time series of particulate-matter samples collected simultaneously at different sites or altitudes proved to be an effective method for the investigation of transport phenomena. Paper presented at the IX Congresso del Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica dell'Atmosfera e dell'Oceano, June 8–10, 1992, Rome.