The Spatial Variation of Dust Particulate Matter Concentrations during Two Icelandic Dust Storms in 2015

摘要

Particulate matter mass concentrations and size fractions of PM 1 , PM 2.5 , PM 4 , PM 10 , and PM 15 measured in transversal horizontal profile of two dust storms in southwestern Iceland are presented. Images from a camera network were used to estimate the visibility and spatial extent of measured dust events. Numerical simulations were used to calculate the total dust flux from the sources as 180,000 and 280,000 tons for each storm. The mean PM 15 concentrations inside of the dust plumes varied from 10 to 1600 μg·m ?3 (PM 10 = 7 to 583 μg·m ?3 ). The mean PM 1 concentrations were 97–241 μg·m ?3 with a maximum of 261 μg·m ?3 for the first storm. The PM 1 /PM 2.5 ratios of >0.9 and PM 1 /PM 10 ratios of 0.34–0.63 show that suspension of volcanic materials in Iceland causes air pollution with extremely high PM 1 concentrations, similar to polluted urban areas in Europe or Asia. Icelandic volcanic dust consists of a higher proportion of submicron particles compared to crustal dust. Both dust storms occurred in relatively densely inhabited areas of Iceland. First results on size partitioning of Icelandic dust presented here should challenge health authorities to enhance research in relation to dust and shows the need for public dust warning systems.