Publications by authors named "Francisco Molero"
CAECENET: An automatic system processing photometer and ceilometer data from different networks to provide columnar and vertically-resolved aerosol properties.
PLoS One
December 2024
This work introduces CAECENET, a new system capable of automatically retrieving columnar and vertically-resolved aerosol properties running the GRASP (Generalized Retrieval of Atmosphere and Surface Properties) algorithm using sun-sky photometer (aerosol optical depth, AOD; and sky radiance measurements) and ceilometer (range corrected signal; RCS) data as input. This method, so called GRASPpac, is implemented in CAECENET, which assimilates sun-sky photometers data from CÆLIS database and ceilometer data from ICENET database (Iberian Ceilometer Network). CAECENET allows for continuous and near-real-time monitoring of both vertical and columnar aerosol properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe influence of the most frequent patterns of synoptic circulation on the dynamics of airborne pollen/spores recorded at the Barcelona Aerobiological Station (BCN) was analysed. Six pollen types (Platanus, Cupressaceae, Olea, Poaceae, Urticaceae and Amaranthaceae), and one fungal spore (Alternaria) were selected for their high allergenic effect in sensitive people. Six synoptic meteorological patterns were identified through cluster analysis of sea level pressure fields as the main responsible of the weather conditions in the Iberian Peninsula.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Local high-pollution episodes in urban areas are largely driven by specific weather conditions and a mix of pollutants, raising concerns about their impact on health.
- This study focused on Madrid from 2011-2014 to analyze how the mixing layer height (MLH) affects pollutant levels like NO, CO, and PM, along with daily mortality rates.
- Results showed that lower MLH corresponded with higher pollutant concentrations and an increase in mortality, while higher MLH significantly reduced health risks, indicating a crucial link between weather patterns and air quality in cities.
Influence of the origin of the air mass on the background levels of atmospheric particulate matter and secondary inorganic compounds in the Madrid air basin.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int
October 2019
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigated how different air mass origins affect particulate matter (PM) and the chemical composition of sulfur oxides (SO) and nitrogen oxides (NO) in Madrid's air from June 2009 to July 2011, using a cluster analysis of air mass back-trajectories.
- - Five distinct clusters representing various air mass characteristics were identified, leading to insights on their impact on PM pollution levels at both regional and urban monitoring stations in Madrid.
- - Key findings indicate that mineral desert dust significantly raises PM levels, while SO is linked to pollution from Southern Europe and the Mediterranean, and NO levels rise during low barometric gradient conditions, with pollution sources identified in northeastern Europe and North Africa.
A widely tunable active coherent laser spectrometer (ACLaS) has been demonstrated for standoff detection of broadband absorbers in the 1280 to 1318 cm spectral region using an external cavity quantum cascade laser as a mid-infrared source. The broad tuning range allows detection and quantification of vapor phase molecules, such as dichloroethane, ethylene glycol dinitrate, and tetrafluoroethane. The level of confidence in molecular mixing ratios retrieved from interfering spectral measurements is assessed in a quantitative manner.
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