• 41.500°N 2.200°E 720 m a.s.l.

Observational platform

Spain

• Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)

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

• Andrés Alastuey
  Facility PI

Ground-based fixed regional background site

The Montseny station is located in the Montseny natural park, 40 km to the N–NE of the Barcelona urban area, and 25 km from the Mediterranean coast. The station is located on the upper walls of a valley extending perpendicularly from the Catalan pre-coastal ranges, in a densely forested area known as La Castanya (720 m.a.s.l.). The station is situated relatively far from urban and industrial zones, but the region is generally densely populated and heavily industrialised, and local anthropogenic emissions can affect this site under specific meteorological conditions.

The site consists of two shelters located in the Mas de l’Adrobau where most instruments are placed. Since 2014, the site has been improved including a country house, La Castanya, offering accommodation for external scientist and instrumentation, as well as performing training and summer courses.

Research carried out at this site includes:
• Interpretation of the spatial and temporal variability of physico-chemical and optical parameters characterizing atmospheric aerosols in a regional background area frequently affected by the transport of anthropogenic emissions from the Barcelona conurbation and Valles industrial areas and by long range transport episodes (e.g. Saharan dust outbreaks, forest fires).
• Identification of the source origin and atmospheric processes controlling aerosol characteristics during winter and summer pollution episodes in NE Spain, with special interest in organic aerosols.
• Quantification of the origin of mineral matter in regional aerosols in NE Spain.

• PEREZ et al. (2008). Interpretation of the variability of levels of regional background aerosols in the Western Mediterranean. Science of The Total Environment, 407(1), 527-540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.09.006
• 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
• Pey et al. (2009). Geochemistry of regional background aerosols in the Western Mediterranean. Atmospheric Research, 94(3), 422-435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2009.07.001
• Pey et al. (2010). Intense winter atmospheric pollution episodes affecting the Western Mediterranean. Science of The Total Environment, 408(8), 1951-1959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.01.052
• Cusack et al. (2013). Variability of sub-micrometer particle number size distributions and concentrations in the Western Mediterranean regional background. Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 65(1), 19243. https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v65i0.19243
• Pandolfi et al. (2011). Variability of aerosol optical properties in the Western Mediterranean Basin. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11(15), 8189-8203. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-8189-2011
• in 't Veld et al. (2023). Discovering oxidative potential (OP) drivers of atmospheric PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 simultaneously in North-Eastern Spain. Science of The Total Environment, 857, 159386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159386
• https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-12567-2016, 2016
• Pandolfi et al. (2016). Trends analysis of PM source contributions and chemical tracers in NE Spain during 2004–2014: a multi-exponential approach. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16(18), 11787-11805. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-11787-2016
• Pandolfi et al. (2014). Effects of sources and meteorology on particulate matter in the Western Mediterranean Basin: An overview of the DAURE campaign. JGR Atmospheres, 119(8), 4978-5010. https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JD021079
• in 't Veld et al. (2024). Identification of volatile organic compounds and their sources driving ozone and secondary organic aerosol formation in NE Spain. Science of The Total Environment, 906, 167159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167159
• in 't Veld et al. (2023). Characterizing the sources of ambient PM10 organic aerosol in urban and rural Catalonia, Spain. Science of The Total Environment, 902, 166440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166440
• Yáñez-Serrano et al. (2021). Dynamics of volatile organic compounds in a western Mediterranean oak forest. Atmospheric Environment, 257, 118447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118447
• Carnerero et al. (2021). Trends in primary and secondary particle number concentrations in urban and regional environments in NE Spain. Atmospheric Environment, 244, 117982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117982
• Castillo et al. (2017). Quantifying Dry and Wet Deposition Fluxes in Two Regions of Contrasting African Influence: The NE Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands. Atmosphere, 8(5), 86. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos8050086
• Minguillón et al. (2015). Chemical characterization of submicron regional background aerosols in the western Mediterranean using an Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15(11), 6379-6391. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-6379-2015
• van Drooge et al. (2012). Molecular marker characterization of the organic composition of submicron aerosols from Mediterranean urban and rural environments under contrasting meteorological conditions. Atmospheric Environment, 61, 482-489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.07.039
• Izquierdo et al. (2012). Trajectory statistical analysis of atmospheric transport patterns and trends in precipitation chemistry of a rural site in NE Spain in 1984–2009. Atmospheric Environment, 61, 400-408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.07.060
• Cusack et al. (2012). Trends of particulate matter (PM_2.5) and chemical composition at a regional background site in the Western Mediterranean over the last nine years (2002–2010). Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12(18), 8341-8357. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-8341-2012
• Izquierdo et al. (2012). Atmospheric phosphorus deposition in a near-coastal rural site in the NE Iberian Peninsula and its role in marine productivity. Atmospheric Environment, 49, 361-370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.11.007
• Minguillón et al. (2011). Fossil versus contemporary sources of fine elemental and organic carbonaceous particulate matter during the DAURE campaign in Northeast Spain. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11(23), 12067-12084. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-12067-2011
• https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-13161-2011, 2011
• Yus-Díez et al. (2022). Absorption enhancement of black carbon particles in a Mediterranean city and countryside: effect of particulate matter chemistry, ageing and trend analysis. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22(13), 8439-8456. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-8439-2022
• Ealo et al. (2018). Impact of aerosol particle sources on optical properties in urban, regional and remote areas in the north-western Mediterranean. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18(2), 1149-1169. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-1149-2018
• Ripoll et al. (2015). Joint analysis of continental and regional background environments in the western Mediterranean: PM₁ and PM₁₀ concentrations and composition. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15(2), 1129-1145. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-1129-2015