Repository logo
 
Publication

Origin of atmospheric aerosols at the Pierre Auger Observatory using studies of air mass trajectories in South America

dc.contributor.authorPierre Auger collaboration (496 authors)
dc.contributor.authorAbreu, Pedro
dc.contributor.authorAndringa, Sofia
dc.contributor.authorAssis, Pedro
dc.contributor.authorBrogueira, Pedro
dc.contributor.authorCazon, Lorenzo
dc.contributor.authorConceição, Ruben
dc.contributor.authorDiogo, Francisco
dc.contributor.authorEspadanal, Joao
dc.contributor.authorGonçalves, Patrícia
dc.contributor.authorOliveira, Micael
dc.contributor.authorPimenta, Mário
dc.contributor.authorSanto, Catarina E
dc.contributor.authorSantos, Eva
dc.contributor.authorSarmento, Raul
dc.contributor.authorTomé, Bernardo
dc.date.accessioned2019-02-04T03:33:53Z
dc.date.available2019-02-04T03:33:53Z
dc.date.issued2014-06-05
dc.date.updated2019-02-04T03:33:53Z
dc.description.abstractThe Pierre Auger Observatory is making significant contributions towards understanding the nature and origin of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. One of its main challenges is the monitoring of the atmosphere, both in terms of its state variables and its optical properties. The aim of this work is to analyze aerosol optical depth $\tau_{\rm a}(z)$ values measured from 2004 to 2012 at the observatory, which is located in a remote and relatively unstudied area of the Pampa Amarilla, Argentina. The aerosol optical depth is in average quite low - annual mean $\tau_{\rm a}(3.5~{\rm km})\sim 0.04$ - and shows a seasonal trend with a winter minimum - $\tau_{\rm a}(3.5~{\rm km})\sim 0.03$ -, and a summer maximum - $\tau_{\rm a}(3.5~{\rm km})\sim 0.06$ -, and an unexpected increase from August to September - $\tau_{\rm a}(3.5~{\rm km})\sim 0.055$). We computed backward trajectories for the years 2005 to 2012 to interpret the air mass origin. Winter nights with low aerosol concentrations show air masses originating from the Pacific Ocean. Average concentrations are affected by continental sources (wind-blown dust and urban pollution), while the peak observed in September and October could be linked to biomass burning in the northern part of Argentina or air pollution coming from surrounding urban areas.
dc.description.versionPeer Reviewed
dc.identifierAtmos.Res. 149 (2014) 120-135; DOI 10.1016/j.atmosres.2014.05.021
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2014.05.021
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/26599
dc.language.isoeng
dc.titleOrigin of atmospheric aerosols at the Pierre Auger Observatory using studies of air mass trajectories in South America
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
rcaap.rightsopenAccesspt
rcaap.typearticle

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
1.pdf
Size:
1.94 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.85 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: