Title: Analysis of an anomalous case of high air pollution concentration in Turin after a foehn event

Authors: P. Natale, D. Anfossi, C. Cassardo

Addresses: ARPA, Via San Domenico 22b, 10123 Turin, Italy. Istituto di Cosmo-Geofisica del C.N.R., Corso Fiume 4, 10133 Turin, Italy. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Avanzate, Universita di Torino, sede di Alessandria, Corso Borsalino 54, 15100 Alessandria, Italy.

Abstract: A case of unusually high concentrations of some urban air pollutants (CO, NO, SO₂) in Turin (Northwestern Italy) is presented. This episode occurred during the late afternoon of 7 November 1995. This day was characterised by a strong northern foehn event in the morning, which followed the passage of a cold front. The analysis has been carried out by means of data derived from the urban and suburban air quality monitoring networks, of meteorological data (wind velocity, temperature and relative humidity) from the same network and from other networks in the region, and of the output of the numerical model LAMBO (operatively used by the Regional Meteorological Service of Emilia Romagna). The analysis of meteorological data appears to be in good correlation with the distribution of the air pollutant concentrations; in particular, the high concentrations observed in the late afternoon are due to a strong thin inversion layer near the ground, developing immediately after the sudden end of the foehn episode.

Keywords: foehn; inversion; meteorology; model output; urban air pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.1999.002255

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 1999 Vol.11 No.2, pp.147-164

Published online: 13 Aug 2003 *

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