Impacts of the NAO on Atmospheric Pollution in the Mediterranean Basin

Uri Dayan*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

There are several inherent problems in attributing pollution concentrations to changes in large-scale atmospheric circulation: (1) the year to year variability being modulated by both, changes in circulation and changes in upwind emissions, (2) the shorter life-time of some pollutants precluding a meaningful relationship with changes in circulation, and (3) the both-ways interaction between trace gases, aerosols and climate. Simulations of transport of anthropogenic CO for high and low phases of the NAO are presented followed by an observational-based study relating the ozone seasonal variability across North Atlantic and the Western Mediterranean to the NAO. Both phases of the NAO controlling dust transport to the Mediterranean are described: the positive phase during summer over the western region and the negative one regulating dust transport over the Eastern Mediterranean in winter. Low NAO indices have been related to a higher cyclonic activity over the western basin. On the contrary, other studies found no correlation between annual wet deposition of African dust-related elements and the NAO. Although, at present, there is no consensus on the process responsible for the observed low-frequency variations in the NAO, most of them predict the continuation of the positive NAO state until the mid twenty-first century implying a predominantly zonal circulation over the western Mediterranean. This imply a reduced import of European trace gases, an enhancement of long range transport of air pollutants from North American sources and conditions in favor of mobilization and transport of North African dust mainly to the western part of this fragile basin.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Global Change Research
PublisherSpringer International Publishing
Pages171-181
Number of pages11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011

Publication series

NameAdvances in Global Change Research
Volume46
ISSN (Print)1574-0919
ISSN (Electronic)2215-1621

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2011, Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Keywords

  • Air Pollution
  • Atmospheric circulation
  • Environment
  • Mediterranean Basin
  • NAO

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