Article published on Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics: Classification of synoptic and local-scale wind patterns using k-means clustering in a Tyrrhenian coastal area (Italy)
Abstract: In coastal regions, the complex interaction of synoptic-scale dynamics and breeze regimes influence the local atmospheric circulation, permitting to distinguish typical yet alternative patterns. In this paper, the k-means clustering algorithm is applied to the hourly time series of wind intensity and direction collected by in-situ weather stations at seven locations within 30 km from the western coastline of central Italy, in the proximity of Rome, over the period 2014–2020. The selection of both wind-integral quantities and ad hoc...
BAQUNIN participation at the Fourth National Congress of AISAM
BAQUNIN participated in the Fourth National Congress of the Italian Association of Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (AISAM) hosted by the University of Milan (Italy) from 15 to 19 February 2022. The Congress is intended as a meeting point for the Italian scientific community, which deals with atmospheric sciences, meteorology, and climatology and is configured as a precious opportunity to promote reflection on current and urgent issues. The BAQUNIN team participated with four contributions: "The influence of meteorological conditions on the atmospheric composition in...
In memory of Marco
The untimely passing of Marco Cacciani (18th January 2022) is a loss to the European science community. Marco was a brilliant researcher in the field of atmospheric science, endowed with extraordinary experimental talent and keen ability to understand the observed phenomena. He was co-founder and the beating heart of the BAQUNIN project, head of the Atmospheric Physics Laboratory and our scientific beacon. We, who had the privilege to be his friends and to work with him, hope that we can keep on the...
An isolated peak of atmospheric pressure caused by the explosion of the Hunga Tona-Hunga Ha’apai volcano
The BAQUNIN microbarometer installed at the urban observatory of the Sapienza Campus (Rome, Italy) recorded the shock wave due to the explosion of the Hunga Tona-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, which reached Italy on the evening of 15 January 2022. The isolated peak at 19:52 UTC (red ellipse) is evident, with a pressure increase of about 1.6 mbar. The oscillations following the main peak are linked to other shock waves that reached the station from different directions. Since the eruption, which released...
Article published on Earth System Science Data: Advanced NO2 retrieval technique for the Brewer spectrophotometer applied to the 20-year record in Rome, Italy
Abstract: A re-evaluated data set of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) column densities over Rome for the years 1996 to 2017 is here presented. This long-term record is obtained from ground-based direct sun measurements with a MkIV Brewer spectrophotometer (#067), further reprocessed using a novel algorithm. Compared to the original Brewer algorithm, the new method includes updated NO2 absorption cross sections and Rayleigh scattering coefficients, and accounts for additional atmospheric compounds and instrumental artefacts, such as the spectral transmittance of the...
Article published on Urban Climate: A wide-ranging investigation of the COVID-19 lockdown effects on the atmospheric composition in various Italian urban sites (AER– LOCUS)
Abstract: A widE-Ranging investigation of the first COVID-19 LOCkdown effects on the atmospheric composition in five Italian Urban Sites (AER–LOCUS) has been carried out and is presented in this study. The analysis uses particle and gas concentrations from surface in situ sampling, column aerosol and gas properties from photometer/spectrometers, and satellite NO2 determinations at five sites distributed over the whole Italian territory: Aosta, Milan, Bologna, Rome, and Taranto. These data are related to meteorological conditions to identify the numerous...
Sorbetto summer school
The 2nd International summer school SORBETTO, SOlar Radiation Based Established Techniques for aTmospheric Observations" is announced. The main topics are listed above. - Ground based instruments: Radiation theory, Photometry and networks, Spectrometry and networks and Metrology applied to solar radiometry -Satellite: Overview of Satellite Remote sensing, Overview on Satellite ESA missions and Cal/Val activities The school will be held on line from 13 to 15 September 2021, and it is open to researchers, PhD students and workers involved in this type of atmospheric...