Airflow and teleconnection patterns driving the spatial and temporal variability of high 7Be air concentrations in Europe. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hernández-Ceballos, M.A.; Brattich, E.; Ajtić, J.
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 303:Part 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: 7Be -- Air masses -- Teleconnection patterns -- REMdb -- Europe; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135194
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: The long-term monitoring of the cosmogenic 7 Be activity concentrations has been used to better understand the influence of large-scale atmospheric circulation dynamics in the troposphere. With an aim, this study analyzes weekly 7 Be data from 15 sampling stations in Europe over 2005–2014. We first define peak (or extremely high) events in each station as those activity concentrations above the 90th percentile, and then investigate their temporal and spatial variability. These events are most frequent in the spring and summer seasons, with a notable latitudinal variability in their number. Next, we use back-trajectory cluster analysis to identify the main advection pathways associated with these high concentrations. To achieve this, persistent periods, i.e., sampling periods over which at least 60% of the calculated backward trajectories arriving at a given site correspond to the same airflow pattern, are taken as reference. This method reveals large differences in the association between the airflow patterns observed at different stations in connection with the 7 Be peaks. A comparison between stations shows no clear spatial pattern, which suggests a further influence of mesoscale/local physical processes on the surface 7 Be activity concentrations. Finally, the main airflow pattern at each sampling site and the associated 7 Be peaks, are related to the main teleconnection patterns of large scale and regional climate variability in Europe: North Atlantic Oscillation, Arctic Oscillation, East Atlantic, East Atlantic/Western Russia, Scandinavian pattern and Western Mediterranean Oscillation. The results point out the connection between the negative phases of NAO and We-MO, and the positive phase of EA with the spatial and temporal variability and occurrence of the 7 Be peak activity concentrations. These results show a latitudinal division between northern and southern sites, with similar influence of teleconnection patterns, while those located in the central part of Europe present larger variability in the impact of teleconnection patterns. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Evaluate the temporal and spatial variability of the extreme 7 Be activity concentrations in Europe (2005–2014). Evidence differences in airflow patterns associated with extreme 7 Be concentrations in Europe. Reveal the influence of the main teleconnection patterns on extreme 7 Be concentrations. Identify latitudinal differences according to extreme 7 Be activity concentrations and meteorological factors.