Long-Term Variability and Trends in Aerosol Burden and Composition Across Eastern Mediterranean Cities
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, cilt.237, sa.20, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 237 Sayı: 20
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s11270-026-09829-y
- Dergi Adı: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, ABI/INFORM, Artic & Antarctic Regions, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, EMBASE, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, Zoological Record, Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Earth, Atmospheric, & Aquatic Science Collection (ProQuest), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Aerosol composition, Aerosol optical depth, CAMS reanalysis, Eastern Mediterranean, Long-term trends, Mineral dust
- Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Atmospheric composition constitutes a key indicator of regional environmental change, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean, a recognized climate change hotspot characterized by rapid urbanization and transboundary pollution dynamics. This study investigates 22 years (2003–2024) of changes in atmospheric aerosol burden and composition across 14 major cities in the Eastern Mediterranean using a spatiotemporal assessment based on Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) reanalysis data. Pronounced spatial differences in aerosol optical depth (AOD) and aerosol composition were identified, with higher aerosol loading in desert-influenced cities affected by frequent dust events and comparatively lower levels in several northern coastal cities. Seasonal analysis shows generally higher aerosol loading during spring and lower levels during winter across most cities. Component-specific analysis indicates that anthropogenic aerosols, particularly sulfate and organic matter, dominate the composition of metropolitan-scale grid cells across major urban centers, while mineral dust remains the primary driver in arid-proximal locations. Long-term trend analysis reveals statistically significant decreases in total AOD across several metropolitan areas, primarily associated with declines in sulfate and black carbon. In contrast, mineral dust exhibits comparatively weak or non-significant long-term trends, indicating persistent natural aerosol influence across the region. Long-term variability reveals notable interannual fluctuations, with annual mean AOD values generally appearing higher during the mid-2000s and comparatively lower toward the end of the study period. These patterns are presented as descriptive observations and do not imply statistically defined temporal transitions. These findings highlight substantial spatial variability in aerosol composition and suggest that recent reductions in urban aerosol burden are more strongly associated with anthropogenic aerosol components than with natural dust variability. By providing a multi-city, long-term perspective, this study contributes to understanding regional aerosol variability and its implications for air quality management in the Eastern Mediterranean.