Agenda

05 Jun 2025 14:00

Air Quality Trends and Aerosol Analysis in Northeastern Italy’s Mountain Regions

Online

SpeakerMarianna D'AMICO, DAIS, CESA, Ca'Foscari University of Venice

Zoomhttps://unive.zoom.us/j/84601924339?pwd=e36TVaveakUHi2RNQze9KXz0T0kSwN.1

Abstract:
The Spoke 1 within the "Interconnected North-East Innovation Ecosystem" (iNEST), funded by the European Union under the NextGenerationEU initiative, aims to develop research and technology transfer activities with a primary focus on the interdisciplinary exploration of mountain ecosystems. Within this project, the Ca’ Foscari Ice Cores, Isotopic and Environmental Geochemistry Lab is currently working into two main research topics: 1) Air quality in mountain areas; and 2) Mountain rivers ecosystems. This seminar will provide an overview of the research undertaken during the last year of iNEST.

Mountain areas, often considered pristine, are increasingly affected by air pollution from local emissions, biomass burning and transboundary sources. Monitoring air quality in these sensitive regions is essential for protecting ecosystems, human health, and informing environmental policy. To address this, air quality data from 2009 to 2023 were analyzed from multiple monitoring stations across northeastern Italy (Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Trento, and Bolzano). The study focused on key pollutants (NO₂, O₃, CO, SO₂, PM₂.₅, PM₁₀), using different parametrical and nonparametrical statistical methods. Meteorological data were also collected to assess atmospheric dispersion and thermal inversion dynamics, offering insights into how local weather conditions influence pollutant accumulation and transport. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of PM2.5 sources, inorganic and organic chemical analyses were carried out on representative samples collected throughout 2023 in Belluno and Conegliano. In addition, a land use regression (LUR) model was applied to estimate pollutant concentrations in areas lacking monitoring stations.


Bio Sketch:
Dr. Marianna D’Amico holds a Ph.D. in Polar Sciences from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Her doctoral research focused on contaminants of emerging concern in polar regions, particularly their potential for long-range environmental transport, with an emphasis on personal care products such as fragrances and UV filters. She combined experimental work with modelling to better understand the distribution of these chemicals in snow and water, along with their atmospheric transport, deposition processes, and environmental fate. During her Ph.D., she completed a visiting research period at the University of Toronto, Canada, where she further investigated the environmental behavior and transport potential of selected personal care products.

As a research fellow at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, within the Ice Cores, Isotopic and Environmental Geochemistry Lab, Dr. D’Amico contributed to the iNEST project, focusing on the long-term trend analysis of atmospheric pollutants and supporting research on water resources aimed at preserving mountain ecosystems.

Language

The event will be held in English

Organized by

Gruppo Ice Cores, Isotopic and Environmental Geochemistry Lab (Mauro MASIOL e Barbara STENNI)

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