An ozone monitoring system composed of two parts, monitoring device (passive sampling tube and ready-to-use indigotrisulfonate (ITS) immobilized pad) for sampling and sensing with smartphone detection is presented. The detection was based on bleaching of ITS by ozone and color evaluation via image processing. Correlation of the change of blue color (Red intensity) with amount of the immobilized ITS leads to ozone concentration by applying Fick's first law of diffusion. The conditions for monitoring were optimized by considering amount of ITS, sampling time, and ambient ozone concentration. The proposed system offers flexibility in ozone monitoring. Under an investigation condition, in real ambient air, ozone detection in the mixing ratio range 10-40 ppbv (20-78 μg m-3) is possible, and results have been validated by the continuous ozone monitoring method. The proposed system was applied to ozone monitoring in ambient air within a district of Berlin (Germany) at 16 sites (about 0.5 km2). The data were then used for calculation of the spatial distribution of the entire area. Monitoring can be carried out by transporting the monitoring devices from various sampling sites to the central lab; over 100 samples per day can be analyzed by a single operator. Alternatively, parallel operation could be performed in many different sampling sites by different operators, leading to semi-real time monitoring. The proposed system is cost-effective (less than 1 USD/device for materials) and very simple to use. The proposed system supports several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has potential for citizen science applications.

Abstract. A comprehensive observational data set of the vertical and horizontal distribution of aerosol particles and meteorological parameters is presented. Data were obtained from an Arctic field campaign conducted with three different measurement platforms deployed at distinct locations in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, during the transition period from spring to summer between 19 May 2024 and 8 June 2024. The uncrewed aerial system ALADINA was used for vertical and horizontal profiling in the lowermost 930 m above sea level, covering 38 measurement flights including 143 vertical profiles and 62 horizontal flight legs at different constant altitudes. The tethered balloon system BELUGA performed 90 vertical profiles up to a maximum altitude of 1.3 km above sea level. Together, the airborne platforms provide information on particle number concentrations, including ultrafine particles with diameters below 20 nm, size distribution from the nucleation to coarse mode, and meteorological parameters (i.e. temperature, humidity, pressure, wind direction, wind speed, and short-wave irradiance). In addition, a surface flux gradient system was applied for the calculation of turbulent fluxes of sensible heat and vertical motion of particles, covering a sampling time of about 214 h. An illustrative case study is shown for 3 June 2024, highlighting the spatial variability of aerosol particles, which is strongly influenced by the stability of the polar atmospheric boundary layer. The high‐resolution observations enable the study of processes of aerosol–cloud interactions, new particle formation and lead to a generally improved understanding of the spatial distribution of Arctic aerosols. The data of all three measurement platforms are publicly available on the world data centre PANGAEA as described in the data availability section.

Refractory black carbon (rBC) aerosol particles strongly influence Arctic atmospheric radiative transfer, making it essential to understand their microphysical properties and mixing state. However, in-situ investigations on microphysical properties and mixing state of rBC particles over the central Arctic marine boundary layer are scarce. To address this gap, we carried out a comprehensive investigation of rBC particles in the central Arctic onboard the RV Polarstern during the ATWAICE cruise. Our results revealed pronounced spatial and temporal variability in microphysical properties of rBC in the Arctic marine boundary layer, governed by transport pathways and removal mechanisms. Under pristine background conditions, rBC mass concentrations were at their lowest (median similar to 0.4-0.6 ng m(-3)). The mass median diameter of rBC cores was found to increase with latitude, from the lowest value (similar to 156 nm) in lower-latitude regions influenced by higher anthropogenic emissions to similar to 220 nm in the high Arctic, consistent with the persistence of aged aerosols under background conditions. Warm airmass intrusions into the Arctic atmosphere were found to bring polluted anthropogenic aerosols into this pristine environment with an eightfold increase in rBC mass concentrations (median similar to 3.4 ng m(-3), rBC(max) similar to 74 ng m(-3)). A dominant influence of biomass-burning emissions from Eurasia during the warm airmass intrusion, which coincided with a shift toward larger rBC cores (similar to 264 nm) and moderate coating thickness. The light absorption enhancement of rBC estimated using core-shell Mie theory remained low during warm airmass intrusions (similar to 1-1.2) than under background conditions (similar to 1.1-1.6), underscoring a strong dependence of rBC radiative effects in the central Arctic on source regions and aging/processing during long-range transport. This study highlights the complexity of rBC aging and mixing state in the central Arctic, driven by variable source characteristics and summertime processing conditions and will help to increase the accuracy in representing rBC in climate models.

Abstract. The Arctic is warming at a significantly faster rate than the global average, which is affecting local climate processes. Aerosol particles play a central role by influencing the energy balance directly through the scattering and absorption of solar radiation and indirectly by acting as cloud condensation nuclei. However, the processes that control aerosol concentrations, such as the mechanisms governing vertical particle exchange, are not well understood, particularly over sea ice. During the ARTofMELT campaign in spring 2023, five weeks of continuous eddy covariance measurements of turbulent particle fluxes were conducted in the High Arctic to investigate the spatial and temporal variability of particle sources and sinks over three surface types. Overall, net particle deposition dominated, with median deposition fluxes of −0.02 × 106m-2 s-1 over closed ice. This confirms the role of ice surfaces as a particle sink under low to moderate turbulence. Under strong winds, net particle emission fluxes of up to 0.98 × 106m-2 s-1 were observed over closed ice surfaces, which are likely linked to processes involving blowing snow. A mixture of emission and deposition was observed over leads and open water surfaces. These observations highlight how surface heterogeneity and turbulence intensity can influence particle exchange in the High Arctic. As sea ice retreats and the extent of open water increases, local particle sources are expected to become more relevant to Arctic aerosol budgets and cloud processes. The results provide observational constraints on particle fluxes, helping to reduce related uncertainties in Arctic model simulations.

The present study held in the frame of the JPI-Oceans FACTS examines the occurrence and long-range transport of microplastics (MP) in the North Atlantic Ocean. During a research cruise in 2021 seven transects along the Norwegian coast up to the Bear Island were actively sampled and the performance of two different sampling devices was evaluated. MP analysis and mass quantification was conducted using Py-GC/MS method. With careful reference to available field and laboratory blank values, MP was detected even in remote Artic areas with concentrations up to 37.5 ng MP m-3 and a clear predominance of the PET cluster. In addition, car tire tread, and clusters of PS, PP, and PUR were detected more often. Using the Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART, an attempt to reconstruct the origin of the air masses was made and to gain information about the origin of the measured MP by quantify different source contributions (sea-spray, mineral dust, road dust, agriculture). In this context, the resuspension of MP from the ocean into the overlying air layers appears to be a relevant source. Likewise, the long-range transport of PET particles appears to be substantial. The range of polymers detected, but also the risk of contamination, was closely linked to the particular sampling method used.

The Arctic region is warming rapidly, and aerosol-cloud-sea-ice interactions are considered to be one of the key features of the Arctic climate system. It is therefore crucial to identify Arctic particle sources and sinks in order to study their impact on cloud formation and properties. Scott and Levin (1972) were the first to describe open leads as potential sources of atmospheric particles and thus a local source of particle emissions in the central Arctic. Held et al. (2011) found that open leads and ice ridges in particular emit high levels of particles. Particle concentrations have also been shown to be altered by the intrusion of warm and moist air masses and can be strongly enhanced in turbulence-dominated cases (You et al., 2022). Despite significant progress in Arctic research in recent years, there is still a lack of information on near-surface particle concentrations over different surface types, especially before and during the ice-melting period.Here, we present measurements of near-surface particle concentration profiles to help to quantify the vertical aerosol exchange between Arctic sea ice and the atmosphere. In spring 2023, during the research cruise ARTofMELT on board the icebreaker Oden, we successfully carried out vertical particle measurements. From 17 May to 9 June 2023, near-surface particle concentration profiles were measured during 16 individual measurement periods. Due to the early season, measurements could be taken both before and during the melting process.For the profile measurements, an aersol inlet was automatically moved up and down by a 1.50 m linear actuator. A plate was attached to the lift to hold sensors for the distance, wind and temperature as well as the aerosol inlet. An box containing the condensation particle counter (CPC 3007, TSI, St. Paul, MN, USA) was connected to the inlet. Total particle number concentrations with a lower cut-off diameter of 10 nm were then determined at six different heights from 6 cm above the surface to 1.30 m. These measurements were carried out on the ice close to an open lead or surrounded by a closed ice surface.Figure 1 shows an example for two days of fluxes at 79.8 ° N and 1.9° W. Due to the proximity to the open lead, an emission (red) of aerosols predominates, which is partially alternated by a deposition (blue). The flow calculations are based on 26 height profiles measured on 17 May and 24 on 18 May.We thank our colleagues from Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, Stockholm University, Swedish polar research secretariat as well as all expedition participants who provided insight and expertise that greatly assisted the research.Held, A., Brooks, I.M., Leck, C., and Tjernström, M. (2011) On the potential contribution of open lead particle emissions to the central Arctic aerosol concentration. Atmos.Chem.Phys. 11, 3093-3105.Scott, W. D. and Z. Levin (1972) Open channels in sea ice as ion sources. Science 177, 425-426.You, C., Tjernström, M., Devasthale, A. (2022) Warm and moist air intrusions into the winter Arctic: a Lagrangian view on the near-surface energy budgets. Atmos.Chem.Phys. 22, 8037–8057.

Atmospheric ions can play a role in atmospheric processes such as new particle formation. Turbulent flux measurements can help to quantify source and sink processes of atmospheric ions. In this study, we present for the first time eddy covariance flux measurements of the vertical turbulent transport of atmospheric cluster ions before, during and after new particle formation events above a forest canopy in Central Europe in the summer of 2022. Typical positive cluster ion concentrations ranged from approximately 200 to 400 cm-3, and negative cluster ion concentrations ranged from 20 to 200 cm-3. Interestingly, the turbulent fluxes of positive and negative cluster ions were bidirectional: The net turbulent flux of negative cluster ions was mostly positive (median value: +4.8 x 106 m-2s-1), that is, directed from the surface to the atmosphere, while the net turbulent flux of positive cluster ions was mostly negative (median value: -4.2 x 106 m-2s-1), that is, directed from the atmosphere to the surface. For negative cluster ions, the median vertical transport velocity in the atmospheric electric field was v el = -1.5 cms-1, less than 25% of the median turbulent transfer velocity v tur = -6.6 cms-1. For positive cluster ions, v el = +1.4 cms-1 and v tur = +1.3 cms-1 were almost equal. Subtracting the parameterized deposition flux from the measured net turbulent flux of cluster ions yields a positive ion source flux for both positive and negative cluster ions. Overall, direct eddy covariance flux measurements of cluster ions provide interesting insights into ion dynamics and bear the potential for further application in future studies.

In this study, we introduce the turbulent enhancement ratio (TER) as an experimental approach for characterizing local emission sources in complex urban environments, with a focus on the city of Innsbruck, Austria. The idea behind the approach is to take advantage of highly time-resolved trace gas observations that allow for identifying turbulent air motions, from which a turbulent enhancement ratio can be constructed. Spectral analysis helps in determining the most relevant temporal scales that need to be resolved for the TER at a location. We use a comprehensive measurement setup at the Innsbruck Atmospheric Observatory, utilizing advanced instruments to test the approach. Our dataset, spanning mid-2018 to early 2022, includes periods affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing us to assess the impact of reduced traffic and changes in domestic fuel use on NOx / CO2 emission ratios. We test the method by comparing it with direct eddy covariance flux measurements of these tracers. The results show a statistically significant linear relationship between TER and the flux ratio of NOx over CO2, with regression slopes ranging between 0.96 and 1.1. Weekday TER values are generally higher due to increased traffic, while weekend values are lower, reflecting reduced commuter activity. Seasonal analysis shows that winter TER is influenced significantly by domestic heating, while in summer, traffic is the predominant source of NOx and CO2 emissions within the measurement footprint. The diurnal cycle of TER also highlights the role of valley wind systems in modulating local emissions through changes in the footprint, with up-valley winds bringing higher traffic-related emissions to the site during the day. Our findings demonstrate that by resolving the most relevant turbulent timescales for a location, TER is a robust predictor for emission ratios in urban settings, offering insights into the dynamics of local emissions. The method's ability to capture turbulent fluctuations provides a more nuanced understanding of source contributions, particularly in environments with complex and mixed emission sources.

Soluble iron is a key reactant in the atmospheric aqueous phase, undergoing photochemical and redox reactions and forming complexes. Its reaction with dihydroxybenzenes drives the formation of light-absorbing products. This study systematically investigates the formation of colored organic compounds from catechol precursors catalyzed by iron, with a focus on the role of iron oxidation state, UV light, and the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at acidic conditions (pH 3). In the presence of Fe(III) in the dark, light-absorbing, greyish-black, insoluble particles were formed. UV light reduced their formation, while H2O2 inhibited the formation completely. However, the presence of H2O2 led to a colored, strongly light-absorbing solution in both Fe(II) and Fe(III) experiments. Fe(II)-based experiments required UV light for the formation of those greyish-black particles. These findings emphasize the significant impact of soluble iron in forming light-absorbing compounds under varying conditions, highlighting its potential influence on the Earth's radiation budget. Interactions between iron and catechol, present in smoke plumes, may form light-absorbing particles. The formation process depends on the iron oxidation state and the presence of sunlight and hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract. We present the first online instrument for the speciation of water‑soluble iron in ambient aerosols, enabling simultaneous quantification of Fe(II) (ws‑Fe(II)) and total water‑soluble Fe (total ws‑Fe). The system combines flow injection analysis with spectrophotometric detection of the Fe(II)–ferrozine complex using a liquid waveguide capillary cell (LWCC) for sensitive detection. The setup was tested with two different aerosol sampling units during field campaigns in Berlin. In summer 2024, the Metrohm AeRosol Sampler (MARS) operated at pH 6.5, while in winter 2025 a particle‑into‑liquid sampler (PILS) was applied at pH 4.5 to mimic acidic cloud water conditions. Limits of quantification (LOQ) for Fe(II) determination were 1.6 ng m⁻³ and 1.0 ng m⁻³ for the MARS‑FIA and PILS‑FIA setups, respectively, with ambient ws‑Fe concentrations ranging from below LOQ to 47 ng m⁻³. Both setups yielded robust online measurements; however, the PILS‑FIA working at pH 4.5 underestimated ws‑Fe compared to filter sampling and extraction. This discrepancy can be attributed to the shorter extraction time in the PILS system, highlighting the influence of extraction duration on the measured iron concentration. Since soluble iron drives important tropospheric aqueous-phase reactions like hydroxyl radical formation through Fenton chemistry, the speciation data provided by the presented setup could improve model representations of atmospheric iron processes.

Understanding aerosol particles in the Arctic is crucial due to their impact on the region’s radiative balance and their role in modifying cloud properties. These interactions drive unique feedback mechanisms that enhance Arctic warming and influence global climate systems. Consequently, it is important to identify and quantify Arctic aerosol particle sources and sinks, including their vertical transport, and to characterize their optical properties and resulting effects on cloud formation. Despite the importance of aerosol particles in the Arctic, there is a lack of direct measurements of aerosol particles over the Arctic especially over the Arctic marine boundary layer. In this context, we have conducted aerosol measurements aboard the German research vessel Polarstern during the ATWAICE (Atlantic Water Pathways to the Ice in the Nansen Basin and Fram Strait) expedition from June to August 2022. This study included continuous measurements of physical and chemical aerosol parameters to investigate variations in aerosol properties. On-line measurements of black carbon (BC) and its mixing state were complemented by off-line analyses of seawater and fog water samples to identify transport pathways of BC particles. Additionally, seawater, aerosol filter samples, and fog water samples were analyzed to explore how ice nucleating particles are linked across these compartments. Vertical profiles of aerosol particles were measured above different surface conditions to examine the direction of vertical particle transport. Higher aerosol concentrations were recorded as the ship passed through the outer margin of the marginal ice zone, where marine sources dominate, supported by evidence of significant photochemical ageing processes. The highest values of refractory black carbon (rBC) and light scattering coefficients were measured during the transact from northern Europe to the Arctic circle (between 56°N to 70°N), with average rBC concentrations of approximately 40 ng m-3 and light scattering at 525 nm averaging ~29 Mm-1. During this period, air mass trajectories reflected a nearly equal influence from both continental and marine sources. In contrast, the lowest scattering and absorption values were observed in the central Arctic, when the ship navigated in densely packed ice regions under the influence of north-easterly air masses originating over the Arctic Ocean. A comprehensive analysis of these findings will be presented in this presentation.

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive contaminants, yet understanding their pathways and fate in the marine environment remains unclear. A key challenge is the lack of in-situ, complementary measurements linking MP quantification with oceanographic parameters, particularly concerning submesoscale processes and density fronts. Submesoscale dynamics, including filaments, eddies, and fronts, significantly influence the transport and accumulation of MPs by creating convergence zones and sharp density gradients. Density fronts serve as critical hotspots for MP aggregation, concentrating particles through upwelling and downwelling processes. Despite their importance, these interactions remain poorly studied, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches to directly measure the interplay between MPs and the physical processes that drive their distribution.This study addresses this gap by utilizing in-situ measurements collected with an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) in the southern North Sea, simultaneously collecting water samples for MP analysis and key oceanographic data. The ASV simultaneously sampled air, sea surface microlayer, and underlying water for MP analysis. A weather station and conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) sensors were deployed on the ASV to further contextualize the distribution of MPs. Additionally, CTD profiles were obtained by an accompanying research vessel to investigate the influence of stratification and temporal dynamics on MP distribution. An acoustic Doppler current profiler measured water current velocities and flow direction.The measurements underscore the pivotal role of submesoscale fronts and filaments in shaping the accumulation and distribution of MP. Upwelling and downwelling processes at these fronts and filaments concentrated MP up to 30.48 µg MP L⁻¹, and distributed MPs vertically across depth profiles and horizontally across fronts. Wind direction was found to influence the presence of MP in the atmosphere, while wind speeds appeared to enhance heterogeneity in MP composition and concentration within the water.Submesoscale fronts and filaments are highlighted as key zones for MP accumulation, driven by the interplay of horizontal and vertical water flow linked to ageostrophic circulation. The data provide novel insights into their transport mechanisms in the marine environment.

The impact of water-soluble atmospheric iron on formation, growth and aging of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is a controversial subject in the literature. Iron chemistry drives Fenton reactions in the aqueous phase which is dependent on pH. Flow reactor experiments in the dark and under humid conditions were conducted to investigate systematically the influence of ferrous iron in the aqueous phase on alpha-pinene SOA by online physical analysis and offline high-resolution mass spectrometry. During the experiments increased SOA formation under conditions favorable for dark Fenton chemistry in the aqueous phase was observed. Furthermore, samples with an acidified and iron-containing aqueous phase showed a degradation of pinyl-diaterpenyl (C17H26O8) ester which ages through oxidation via OH radicals and can thus be evidence for ongoing degradation processes of high molecular weight molecules by iron chemistry. Moreover, higher abundance of dimer MW338 (C19H30O5) in the acidic sample affected by Fenton's chemistry was detected which is suggested to be formed via acid catalysis indicating competing acidity-driven reactions influencing SOA formation. Therefore, this study provides insight into the impact of aqueous phase iron on SOA formation and transformation under simulated natural conditions. Increased secondary organic aerosol formation in the presence of soluble iron and H2O2 acidic conditions in the aqueous phase.

Abstract. In this study, we introduce the Turbulent Enhancement Ratio (TER) method as a new approach for characterizing local emission sources in complex urban environments, with a focus on the city of Innsbruck, Austria. The idea behind the approach is to take advantage of highly time resolved trace gas observations, that allow identifying turbulent air motions, from which a turbulent enhancement ratio can be constructed. We use a comprehensive measurement setup at the Innsbruck Atmospheric Observatory utilizing advanced instruments to test the approach. Our dataset, spanning from mid-2018 to early 2022, includes periods affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing us to assess the impact of reduced traffic and changes in domestic fuel use on NOx/CO2 emission ratios. We test the approach by comparing with direct eddy covariance flux measurements of these tracers. The results show a statistically significant linear relationship between TER and the flux ratio of NOx over CO2, with regression slopes ranging between 0.96 to 1.1. Weekday TER values are generally higher due to increased traffic, while weekend values are lower, reflecting reduced commuter activity. Seasonal analysis shows that winter TER is influenced significantly by domestic heating, while in summer, traffic is the predominant source of NOx and CO2 emissions within the measurement footprint. The diurnal cycle of TER also highlights the role of valley wind systems in modulating local emissions through changes in footprint, with valley-up winds bringing higher traffic-related emissions to the site during the day. Our findings demonstrate that TER is a robust predictor for emission ratios in urban settings, offering insights into the dynamics of local emissions. The method's ability to capture turbulent fluctuations provides a more nuanced understanding of source contributions, particularly in environments with complex and mixed emission sources.

Microplastic (MP) particles can be ejected into the air by jet drops when gas bubbles burst at water surfaces. For a qualitative and quantitative understanding of this transport mechanism from the hydrosphere to the atmosphere, we studied the transfer of MP due to bubble bursting at the air–water interface in laboratory experiments. Gas bubbles were produced with filtered air that was pushed through a stainless-steel frit at two different volume flow rates in a glass flask filled with polystyrene (PS) particles of six different diameters (0.35 µm, 0.5 µm, 0.75 µm, 1 µm, 1.5 µm, 2 µm) suspended in deionized water. Airborne PS particle concentrations were measured by an optical particle counter. Additionally, size and volume of the bursting bubbles and the resulting jet droplets were analyzed with a camera. Depending on the volume flow rates, bubble bursting rates from 688 s −1 to 1176 s −1 and mean diameters of the bursting bubbles from 0.76 mm to 0.81 mm were observed. The mean diameters of the top jet drops were estimated to be between 0.10 mm and 0.11 mm. The measured number of jet droplets ranged from 2092 s −1 to 2391 s −1 . For particle diameters from 0.35 µm – 2.0 µm, the airborne MP particle concentrations ranged from 4.2 l −1 to 348 l −1 . We determined size-dependent transfer factors for the water–air transfer and found a maximum for 1 µm particles. For MP particles up to 1 µm diameter, the particle concentration in the jet droplets was enhanced compared to the bulk water concentration, indicating an enrichment of MP particles at the water–air-interface of bubbles.

The application of smartphone-based color evaluation of passive sampling devices for gases has only been sparsely reported. The present review aims to compile available publications with respect to the configuration of the passive samplers, conditions of smartphone photographing, analytical procedures for color detection and quantification (including calibration processes), and their application to different target gases. The performance of the methods—whenever available—is presented regarding the analytical specifications selectivity, sensitivity, and limit of detection in comparison with other color evaluation methods of passive samplers. Practical aspects like requirements of instrumentation and ease of use will be outlined in view of the potential employment in education and citizen science projects. In one section of the review, the inconsistent terminology of passive and diffusive sampling is discussed in order to clarify the distinction of information obtained from the uptake of the passive samplers between gas-phase concentration and the accumulated deposition flux of gaseous analytes. Colorimetric gas sensors are included in the review when applied in passive sampling configurations and evaluation is performed with smartphone-based color evaluation. Differences in the analytical procedures employed after the passive sampling step and prior to the detection of the colored compounds are also presented.

Studies revealed airports as a prominent source of ultrafine particles (UFP), which can disperse downwind to residential areas, raising health concerns. To expand our understanding of how air traffic-related emissions influence total particle number concentration (PNC) in the airport's surrounding areas, we conduct long-term assessment of airborne particulate exposure before and after relocation of air traffic from "Otto Lilienthal" Airport (TXL) to Berlin Brandenburg Airport "Willy Brandt" (BER) in Berlin, Germany. Here, we provide insights into the spatial-temporal variability of PNC measured in 16 schools recruited for Berlin-Brandenburg Air Study (BEAR). The results show that the average PNC in Berlin was 7900 ± 7000 cm-3, consistent with other European cities. The highest median PNC was recorded in spring (6700 cm-3) and the lowest in winter (5100 cm-3). PNC showed a bi-modal increase during morning and evening hours at most measurement sites due to road-traffic emissions. A comparison between measurements at the schools and fixed monitoring sites revealed good agreement at distances up to 5 km. A noticeable decline in this agreement occurred as the distance between measurement sites increased. After TXL was closed, PNC in surrounding areas decreased by 30 %. The opposite trend was not seen after BER was re-opened after the COVID-lock-down, as the air traffic has not reached the full capacity yet. The analysis of particle number size distribution data showed that UFP number fraction exhibit seasonal variations, with higher values in spring and autumn. This can be explained by nucleation events, which notably affected PNC. The presented findings will play a pivotal role in forthcoming source attribution and epidemiological investigations, offering a holistic understanding of airports' impact on airborne pollutant levels and their health implications. The study calls for further investigations of air-traffic-related physical-chemical pollutant properties in areas found further away (> 10 km) from airports.

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Emission of microplastics (MP) to the atmosphere, airborne transport, and subsequent deposition are now recognized. However, the temporal and spatial resolution of data on MP pollution and knowledge of their atmospheric behaviour and fate is still very limited. Hence, we investigated MP wet and dry deposition in Central Germany and examined the role of weather conditions on MP contamination levels. Monthly samples of dry and wet deposition were taken over an eight-month period (05/2019-12/2019) and analysed by micro-Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (µFTIR) down to 11 μm particle size and one dry deposition sample was subjected to Raman analysis to determine plastic particles down to a size of 0.5 μm. MP in a size range from 11 μm to 130 μm were detected in all wet deposition samples and in 4 out of 8 dry deposition samples by µFTIR. Polypropylene particles were found most frequently and accounted for 62