The “Arnaldo Liberti” observatory is located in the Roma1 Research Area, in the municipality of Montelibretti (Rome). Since the 70s, air quality measurements, studies on the main atmospheric pollutants and validation of pollutant sampling and analysis methods are carried out here. It is equipped for the on-line measurement of gaseous pollutants (ozone, nitrogen oxides), for the measurement of the main meteorological parameters and for the determination on an hourly basis of natural radioactivity, useful for evaluating the mixing properties of the lower atmosphere (PBL Mixing Monitor FAI Instruments).
The observatory is also equipped with a variety of field instruments used for the sampling of atmospheric dust on a filter membrane: - 2 SWAM 5a Dual Channel Monitor two-channel automatic samplers and 1 SWAM 5a Monitor single-channel, FAI Instruments, which also provide automatic mass concentration of airborne dust, by means of the beta attenuation technique; - 3 two-channel samplers (HYDRA Dual Sampler, FAI Instruments) and six single-channel samplers (Skypost, Tecora) operating at a flow rate of 38 L / min; 8 very quiet samplers (<35 dB) operating at a flow rate of 10 L / min (SILENT Sequential Air Sampler, FAI Instruments), which allow for sampling in indoor environments (homes, schools, offices) even in real life conditions; - 4 multistage impactors for the dimensional fractionation of powders in 8 or 10 intervals between 0.011 and 18 micrometers (Moudi and Nano Moudi); - 60 FAI Instruments Smart Sampler mini-samplers operating at a flow rate of 0.5 L / min. The latter allow for long-term sampling (1-2 months) and, in large numbers throughout the territory, to create concentration maps of the particulate and its chemical components.
