PM_(2.5) CONCENTRATIONS OVER EUROPE Combining satellite data and modelling

摘要

Fine particles, aerosols have an adverse effect on human health at elevated levels. They also have an effect on radiative forcing and apart from black carbon will have a cooling effect. Currently the quantification of both the health and climate aspect of aerosols is hampered by the lack of adequate and sufficient observations. Concerning health effects one of the key components is the concentration of PM_(2.5). At the moment PM_(2.5) is the standard in the USA, in Europe it is still PM_(10), which standard will be reviewed in 2003. In Europe very few PM_(2.5) observations are performed at the moment, which makes an analysis of the present concentration levels, let alone the determination of adequate abatement strategies nearly impossible. From satellite, the observation of the tropospheric integrated vertical aerosol content, the Aerosol Optical Depth-AOD, is possible. Modelling of the aerosol-concentrations using a 3D Eulerian grid model is also possible, with still some restrictions. The model results of the AOD have been integrated with the satellite observations by applying data-assimilation techniques. In this way a first attempt has been made to derive PM_(2.5) concentrations over Europe for the month of august 1997.