Correlation between meteorological conditions and aerosol characteristics at an East-Mediterranean coastal site

Since May 2011 Microtops sun-photometer measurements aiming to determine the aerosol optical depth (ADD) and its spectral dependence (Angstrom exponent, alpha(440/675)) are performed routinely at the experimental station of the Port Said (Egypt) University (Lat.: 31.267 degrees, Lon.: 32.26 degrees, alt.: 21 masl). In parallel, an automated weather station is used to monitor the surface meteorological parameters (wind speed and direction, relative humidity, temperature, pressure...). This work uses the first year of original data (971 point measurements) with the double objective of determining the 1) seasonal variability of the aerosol at a site of the Egyptian Mediterranean coast, and 2) the potential correlation linking the aerosol characteristics to the surface meteorological conditions. The 3-modal nature of the statistical distribution of the Angstrom exponents measured during the year shows that 3 main types of aerosols can be distinguished. The most frequent observations (54% of all cases) correspond to fine particles associated with the largest (1.41 +/- 0.23) alpha(440/675) values. The probability of observing this fine aerosol increases in low wind conditions and when the air masses come either from the south-west, which is to say from the densely populated Nile delta, or from the north, which is to say from the more distant European pollution sources. This strongly suggests an anthropogenic origin for these fine particles. At the opposite side of the size-spectrum, coarse particles associated with the lowest mode of alpha(440/675) (0.48 +/- 0.22) predominate in 33% of the observations. The probability of observing them increasing in spring when the dry and strong (>6 m/s) desert-winds become more frequent suggests that these coarse particles are desert dust released by the wind erosion of arid surfaces. These particles are also responsible for the largest individual and monthly averaged (AOD(500) = 0.50, in April) optical depths measured at the experimental site. Finally, by adding a supermicron marine component to the fine pollution aerosols advected from European sources, medium to strong winds from the north sector tend to increase the aerosol depth and decrease its spectral dependence. Besides the direct mixing of the coarse dust and fine pollution component, this effect is responsible for the occurrence of at least a part of the intermediate Angstrom exponent (alpha(440/675) = 0.91 +/- 0.04) cases. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.