LONG-TERM TRENDS OF CLIMATEALTERING SPECIES AT THE MT. CIMONE WMO/GAW GLOBAL STATION

Abstract

The “O. Vittori” observatory, is located at the summit of Mt. Cimone (44° 12 ‘N, 10° 42’ E, 2165 m a.s.l.), the highest peak in the Northern Apennine and located at the boundary of two climatic regions: continental Europe and Mediterranean basin. Due to its altitude and distance from important direct sources of pollution, the site is strategic for the study of the physical and chemical characteristics of the free troposphere in southern Europe and the Mediterranean basin. The observatory hosts several programs for long-term observations of climate-altering chemical species, in collaboration with a number of international partners, including: stratospheric ozone-depleting halocarbons, regulated by the Montreal Protocol, nonCO2 greenhouse gases, included in Kyoto Protocol basket, ozone and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NM-VOC), mineral aerosol and black carbon. These activities are aimed at analysing long-term trends and to quantify and localize emission sources. The observed trends confirm the success of Montreal Protocol but at the same time point to the persistence of unaccounted emissions from European regions. Non-CO2 greenhouse gases included in Kyoto Protocol show significant increasing trends, while downward tendencies are observed for atmospheric compounds regulated by European air quality directives. These activities are within the scope of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Global Integrated GIS Information System (IG3IS) initiative, an action that aims to improve the ability to quantify greenhouse gas emissions to improve the quality of the existing inventories and to support the implementation of International Protocols for climate change mitigation.