• 41.387°N 2.115°E 115 m a.s.l.

Observational platform

Spain

• Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
• Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)

https://www.idaea.csic.es/egar/barcelona/

• Adolfo Comerón
  PI deputy
• Michael Sicard
  PI deputy
• Andrés Alastuey
  Facility PI

Barcelona site is equipped with the state-of-the-art systems for both remote-sensing and in-situ measurements of atmospheric aerosols. It is an urban background site located in the west part of Barcelona, the second biggest city in Spain, located in the Western Mediterranean Basin (WMB), in a narrow corridor between the sea to the east and a mountain range to the west. The emissions from the city are mainly traffic, domestic heating, cooking, construction with inputs of harbour, airport and industrial emissions. The in-situ measurements are located within the grounds of the IDAEA CSIC; the remote measurements are in the UPC facilities, 200 m from IDAEA_CSIC. The sites are 200 m from Diagonal Avenue, one of the main traffic arteries of the city. The site forms part of the Barcelona Cluster, also integrated by the Montsec (MSA, mountain site, 1590 m.a.s.l.) and Montseny (MSY, Regional BK, 720 m.a.s.l.) sites.

Aerosol in-situ measurements are mainly focused on Air Quality. Main research aims are: a) interpret the variability of levels, composition and physical properties of atmospheric aerosols; b) identify the source origin and atmospheric processes controlling aerosol; c) to quantify the origin of PM components with special interest in organic aerosols and non-exhaust; d) to support air quality action plans; e) to provide a long-term time series of regulated and novel metrics as a relevant input to epidemiological and health impact assessment; f) to investigate the linkages between PM sources and health outcomes.
The site is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments for measurement of aerosol properties and gaseous precursors (VOCs). The site is operated in collaboration with the Catalan AQ network measuring the atmospheric variables regulated (NOX, SO2, PM10, PM2.5, O3 and CO). Green house trace gases (CO2 and CH4) are also measured in collaboration with UAB - ICTA (ICOS CITIES).

• Veld et al. (2021). Compositional changes of PM2.5 in NE Spain during 2009–2018: A trend analysis of the chemical composition and source apportionment. Science of The Total Environment, 795, 148728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148728