• ECO-CNR (Main site): 40.336°N 18.124°E 36 m a.s.l.
• Unisalento: 40.335°N 18.111°E 30 m a.s.l.

Observational platform

Italy

• Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (CNR-ISAC)
• University of Salento

• Daniele Contini
  Facility PI
• Lucio Calcagnile
  PI deputy

The ECO-CNR + UNISALENTO platform is equipped with the state-of-the-art systems for aerosol remote-sensing and in-situ measurements of aerosol and trace gases. The site is classified as urban background, located within the University Campus at approximately 4 km (in the SW direction) from the centre of the urban area of Lecce. The prevailing wind directions are along the axis of the Salento peninsula with frequent intense winds from the N-NW and S-SE sectors. The thermal contrast between the land and the sea surfaces has a role in determining the atmospheric circulation at the site through the development of complex systems of sea-land breezes. Most of the surrounding land is classified as arable crops in non-irrigated areas. The station includes two locations: the Environmental-Climate Observatory (ECO-CNR) for aerosol and trace gases in situ; the location UNISALENTO (CEDAD laboratories-Mathematics and Physics Department) focused on aerosol remote sensing.

The scientific goal pursued is the long-term characterisation of the composition of the atmosphere. The main research lines include: (a) development of advanced aerosol typing and source apportionment approaches; (b) integration of remote-sensing and in-situ measurements to investigate aerosol dynamics; (c) analysis of the chemical and physical properties of aerosols at different temporal resolution; (d) to study the variability of atmospheric aerosol properties as a function of altitude and seasons, as well as the impact of the height of the planetary boundary layer on concentrations; (e) investigating the impact and spatio-temporal evolution of intense pollution events; (f) contributing to the validation of parameters associated with the main properties of atmospheric aerosols detected by satellite sensors. Besides the compliance to the ACTRIS guidelines, most of the measurements are in line with the main ground-based observation international networks and the standards of WMO.

• Cesari et al. (2018). Seasonal variability of PM2.5 and PM10 composition and sources in an urban background site in Southern Italy. Science of The Total Environment, 612, 202-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.230
• Dinoi et al. (2023). Characterization of ultrafine particles and the occurrence of new particle formation events in an urban and coastal site of the Mediterranean area. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23(3), 2167-2181. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2167-2023
• Romano et al. (2022). Characterization of the PM2.5 aerosol fraction monitored at a suburban site in south-eastern Italy by integrating isotopic techniques and ion beam analysis. Front. Environ. Sci., 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.971204
• Romano et al. (2018). Radiative impact of Etna volcanic aerosols over south eastern Italy on 3 December 2015. Atmospheric Environment, 182, 155-170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2018.03.038