Temporal variability and sources of VOCs in urban areas of the eastern Mediterranean
During the summer of 2012 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were monitored by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) in urban sites, in Athens and Patras, two of the largest cities in Greece. Also, during the winter of 2013, PTR-MS measurements were conducted in the center of the ci...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-11-01
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Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/14825/2016/acp-16-14825-2016.pdf |
Summary: | During the summer of 2012 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were
monitored by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) in urban
sites, in Athens and Patras, two of the largest cities in Greece. Also,
during the winter of 2013, PTR-MS measurements were conducted in the center
of the city of Athens. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was applied to
the VOC measurements to gain insights about their sources.<br><br>
In summer most of the measured VOCs were due to biogenic and traffic
emissions. Isoprene, monoterpenes, and several oxygenated VOCs (oVOCs)
originated mainly from vegetation either directly or as oxidation products.
Isoprene average concentrations in Patras and Athens were 1 and 0.7 ppb
respectively, while the monoterpene concentrations were 0.3 and 0.9 ppb
respectively. Traffic was the main source of aromatic compounds during
summer. For Patras and Athens the average concentrations of benzene were 0.1
and 0.2 ppb, of toluene 0.3 and 0.8 ppb, and of the xylenes 0.3
and 0.7 ppb respectively.<br><br>
Winter measurements in Athens revealed that biomass burning used for
residential heating was a major VOC source contributing both aromatic VOCs
and biogenic compounds such as monoterpenes. Several episodes related to
biomass burning were identified and emission ratios (ERs) and emission
factors (EFs) were estimated. |
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ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |