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Joint Research Centre
EC Atmospheric Observatory

Near real time atmospheric monitoring

  • Aerosol Physics - PM10
  • 19 Nov 2024 22:10 ÷ 20 Nov 2024 22:10 (UTC)
  • PM10 is considered as the inhalable fraction of atmospheric particulate matter. PM10 is mainly emitted by stationary and mobile anthropogenic sources. Elevated PM10 values are associated with various health effects and premature deaths.
  • Limit value
  • Daily Limit: 50 µg/m3 (*)
    (*) 24-hour limit value of the Air Quality Directive
  • Last update
  • -6.28 (µg/m³) - 20 Nov 2024 22:10 (UTC)
  • Concentration range
  • -6.28 ÷ 60.36 (µg/m³)
  • Gaseous Pollutants - NO2
  • 19 Nov 2024 22:10 ÷ 20 Nov 2024 22:00 (UTC)
  • Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is emitted mainly by burning of fuel from traffic and energy production. The gas is irritating airways and leads to respiratory diseases. It further contributes to acid rain, haze and over-nutrition of waters.
  • Limit value
  • 1-hour: 200 µg/m3 (104 ppbv) (*)
    Annual limit: 40 µg/m3 (21 ppbv) (*) (*) Air Quality Directive
  • Last update
  • 3.55 (ppbv) - 20 Nov 2024 22:00 (UTC)
  • Concentration range
  • 2.01 ÷ 12.86 (ppbv)
  • Meteorology - Temperature
  • 19 Nov 2024 22:10 ÷ 20 Nov 2024 22:10 (UTC)
  • Last update
  • 5.5 (°C) - 20 Nov 2024 22:10 (UTC)
  • Concentration range
  • 4.2 ÷ 13.9 (°C)
  • Green House Gas - CO2
  • ÷
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important of Earth’s long-lived greenhouse gases. Increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are responsible for about two-thirds of the total energy imbalance that is causing Earth's temperature to rise
  • Last update
  • -
  • Concentration range
  • ÷

Output data are presented every 10 minutes for a time interval of 24 hours. The displayed data are preliminary data that still have to be quality controlled and validated.

Data series over longer intervals can be asked to Jean Philippe Putaud or downloaded from the Joint Research Centre Data Catalogue.

The European Commission Atmospheric Observatory

The EC Atmospheric Observatory is run by the Air and Climate Unit of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission in Ispra (Italy).

The EC Atmospheric Observatory studies interactions between the atmosphere, biosphere and climate change. This is done by continuous measurement of:

  • reactive gas concentrations and aerosol characteristics to track changes in short-lived atmospheric species;
  • greenhouse gas concentrations to track changes in long-lived atmospheric species;
  • fluxes at forest canopy level to track the response of vegetation to climate change and air pollution.

The air pollution measurements contribute to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (UNECE-EMEP). The JRC data allow us to benchmark the impacts of emission reduction policies and show important trends or changes in atmospheric composition.

The JRC observatory measures concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3) and secondary aerosol precursors (SO2, NOx) as well as particulate matter (PM). Daily aerosol samples are collected on quartz fibre filters to determine PM2.5 concentrations and chemical compositions. Weekly quartz samples are collected for the same analyses of PM10. Rainwater samples are also collected to assess the aerosol-wet deposition. The aerosol characterization programme measures all the parameters needed to understand the interplay of ozone and aerosols with solar radiation are measured. As such, aerosol size distribution (in the range 8 nm - 10 µm), and aerosol absorption and scattering coefficients are continuously monitored. The vertical profiling of aerosols is carried out using a LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging laser beam). Additional measurements are carried out during specific periods to develop EMEP-recommended methodologies or European standards.

Greenhouse gas concentrations and 222Rn activity is being measured in Ispra. The station is an important complement to the European monitoring network, which is still relatively sparse in southern Europe. In particular, it provides valuable information on GHG emissions from the Po Valley area. In addition to the use of these measurements for the inverse modelling of GHG emissions, parallel Radon (222Rn) measurements have been added to allow model-independent estimates of regional GHG emissions. The Ispra station contributes to the Integrated Carbon Observation System Research Infrastructure (ICOS-RI) of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). ICOS-RI is a distributed project dedicated to the high precision monitoring of GHG concentrations and fluxes over a long timeframe across Europe.

Team