THE NETWORK OF STATIONS

EGAR operates a network of monitoring stations
for long term and intensive measurements of atmospheric aerosols and gaseous precursors.

This network is operated operated in collaboration with the Direcció General de Qualitat Ambiental(DGQA) del Departament de Territory i Sostenibilitat, de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

This network integrates 3 fixed monitoring sites and 1 mobile station

The fixed sites are:

Barcelona Urban background site
Montseny – MSY – regional background site
Montsec – MSA – remote background sites

The mobile station

Our mobile laboratory unit allows deploying numerous instruments at specific locations of interest (e.g. next to emission sources). It is routinely used as support for the local air quality network (Government of Catalonia, Municipalities) and for intensive research campaigns. The mobile laboratory unit can be equipped with:

  • PMx high volume sampler (DIGITEL DH80)
  • PMx optical counters (GRIMM 1.107 and TSI DustTrack)
  • NOx-NH3 chemiluminescence monitor (Thermo Scientific 17i)
  • O3 UV photometric monitor (Thermo Scientific 49i)
  • SO2 fluorescence monitor (Thermo Scientific 43i)
  • Multi-Angle Absorption Photometer (MAAP) for Black Carbon monitoring (Thermo Scientific)
  • Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (TSI, SMPS)
  • Condensation Particle Counter (TSI CPC)
  • Streaker sampler for 1-hour resolution elemental composition of PM2.5 and PM2.5-10
  • Meterological Tower (Davis)

The design of the network

The design of the network aims to provide a picture of atmospheric aerosols at different environments that can be considered as representative of northeast Spain, in the western Mediterranean Basin. Comparison between measurements obtained at these environments permits us to investigate sources and processes of atmospheric aerosols and provides insight in order to define adequate strategies for air quality and climate policies.