With the signing of the Collaboration Agreement for the strengthening of the EMEP network (Co-operative program for monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transmission of air pollutants in Europe) in Italy between the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and the Institute on Atmospheric Pollution of the CNR, the reactivation process of the historic A. Liberti monitoring station, located in the CNR Research Area of Rome1, was concluded, which will be followed by the setting up of a new sister station on the island of Lampedusa.
Starting from January 2023, the data collection envisaged by the EMEP Program began at the Montelibretti site: analyzers are active at the station for the acquisition of the main meteorological parameters, for the measurement of mass concentrations of PM10 and of the PM2.5, of NO2 and me3, a wet-only precipitation sampler, a sequential filter pack sampler. The measured variables also include inorganic compounds and heavy metals in precipitation, inorganic compounds present in the air, organic and elemental carbon present in PM2.5.
The objective of the station, as envisaged for all Level 1 sites, is to provide long-term measurements of the fundamental EMEP parameters, necessary to describe the fundamental aspects of tropospheric chemistry and the deposition rates of atmospheric particulates, photochemical oxidants , acidifying and eutrophic compounds and heavy metals.
With the launch of the activities of the EMEP Programme, the Institute will be able to have at its disposal an essential air quality database for improving the understanding of the transport phenomena of pollutants and contributing to improving the policies for assessing and controlling atmospheric pollution.