Using 137Cs and 40K to identify natural Saharan dust contributions to PM10 concentrations and air quality impairment in the Canary Islands

Karlsson, Linn; Hernández, Francisco; Rodrı́guez, Sergio; López‐Pérez, María; Hernández-Armas, J.; Alonso-Pérez, Silvia; Cuevas, E.

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2008.06.016

Cited by 42 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Usually, background trace levels are more or less constant during the year. With a continuous analysis of particles in the Canary Island Tenerife, Karlsson et al [2008] showed that it is possible to correlate some saharan dust outbreaks to 137 Cs concentration levels. For the most important recorded values, the back trajectories crossed over Morocco, west Sahara, Algeria, Mali and Mauritania.…”

Section: Dust Episode On 22 February 2004mentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of Saharan dust on radionuclide aerosol activity levels in Europe? The 21–22 February 2004 case study

Menut

Bessagnet

2009

J. Geophys. Res.

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In February 2004, a spectacular dust event was observed in the south of France. Associated with huge particulate matter deposition, unusual 137Cs concentrations were found in samples. Using the transport model CHIMERE‐DUST, we first show that these dust aerosols came from North Africa. More precisely, the question is whether this sudden increase of measured 137Cs concentrations was due to a huge amount of dust over a large region (with an usual radionuclide content) or due to an import of more concentrated air masses over a limited area. This question is connected to the open debate about the contribution of 137Cs concentrations in Europe from “Gerboise” sites, where former French nuclear tests in the 1960s were performed. With the model in scenario mode, this study attempts to track down 137Cs concentrations recorded in the south of France. To quantify the origin and percentage of dust originating from North Africa to the south of France, three simulations are performed: (1) with the complete dust emissions inventory of Africa, (2) with only emissions in the eastern Maghreb, and (3) only considering the Gerboise sites. It is showed that the majority (80%) of the dust was coming from eastern Maghreb, but only 0.7% of the African emissions were from Gerboise, leading to 1–5% of the concentrations recorded in the south of France for the day of the peak.

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Section: Dust Episode On 22 February 2004mentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of Saharan dust on radionuclide aerosol activity levels in Europe? The 21–22 February 2004 case study

Menut

Bessagnet

2009

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…Studies show increased 137 Cs associated with African dust events over the Canary Islands [ Hernandez et al , 2005; Karlsson et al , 2008] and France [ Menut et al , 2009], and with Asian dust over Japan [ Fukuyama and Fujiwara , 2008]. The ratio of 137 Cs to 90 Sr can provide information on the origin of observed dust [ Igarashi et al , 2001, 2005].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emission and transport of cesium‐137 from boreal biomass burning in the summer of 2010

Strode¹,

Ott²,

Pawson³

et al. 2012

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…The air masses from Northern Africa often carry large concentrations of dust aerosols mainly from the Sahara region (Rodríguez et al, 2011;Alonso-Pérez et al, 2012). Previous studies carried out by the FIMERALL laboratory and the Izaña Atmospheric Research Center have shown elevated concentrations of PM 10 (diameter particles of aerosols 10 mm) and 137 Cs when Northern Africa air masses reach the Canary Islands (Karlsson et al, 2008;Hernandez et al, 2005b;Viana et al, 2002;AlonsoPérez et al, 2007). …”

Section: Area Of Studymentioning

confidence: 92%

Arrival of radionuclides released by the Fukushima accident to Tenerife (Canary Islands)

López‐Pérez

Ramos-López²,

Perestelo

et al. 2013

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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Using 137Cs and 40K to identify natural Saharan dust contributions to PM10 concentrations and air quality impairment in the Canary Islands

Cited by 42 publications

References 17 publications

Contribution of Saharan dust on radionuclide aerosol activity levels in Europe? The 21–22 February 2004 case study

Contribution of Saharan dust on radionuclide aerosol activity levels in Europe? The 21–22 February 2004 case study

Emission and transport of cesium‐137 from boreal biomass burning in the summer of 2010

Arrival of radionuclides released by the Fukushima accident to Tenerife (Canary Islands)

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