Ambient atmospheric trace gas concentrations and meteorological parameters during the first BEMA measuring campaign on May 1994 at Castelporziano, Italy

During the first measuring campaign of the BEMA project, carried out in May 1994 at Castelporziano, near Rome, Italy, one of the tasks was to measure continuously meteorological parameters and tropospheric trace gas concentrations. The atmospheric species measured were ozone, NOx, anthropogenic and biogenic hydrocarbons, carbonyl compounds, hydrogen peroxide, organic peroxides and PAN. Another goal was the characterization of the atmospheric circulation patterns. The results showed that anthropogenic pollution is present at the Castelporziano site originating mainly from the Rome metropolitan area but also from other directions. The average concentration levels of NOx were about 9 ppb, the average total measured anthropogenic hydrocarbon concentration was 67 ppbC and the average ozone mixing ratio was 36 ppb. The possible role of naturally emitted VOCs in tropospheric ozone formation is discussed.