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Characterization of particulate matter in the
Caribbean area
R´esum´e
Abstract
The Caribbean area, made up of several archipelagos, is frequently subject to the passages
of sands air masses from the African coasts (1). This natural pollution adds to the aerosol
regimes of the Lesser Antilles arc (2). The latter are mainly composed of marine aerosols,
particle linked to volcanic and local anthropogenic activities. Many measures canals are
located on the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Barbados. More
specifically the Aeronet network and ground-based measurements of particulate matter with
aerodynamic diameters less than or equal to 2.5 and 10 µm (PM2.5 and PM10). Thus, the
study of PM2.5/PM10 ratio combined with the optical analysis of the Volume Particle Size
Distribution (VPSD) allowed to refine the characterization of the pollution while measur-
ing the induced health impact. Indeed, the PM2.5/PM10 ratio is an indicator relating to
the particulate pollution in the atmospheric boundary layer and is also a health barometer.
Furthermore, the VPSD profiles highlight the type of particle linked to PM2.5/PM10 ratios
identified.
References
(1) Euphrasie-Clotilde, L., Plocoste, T., Feuillard, T., Velasco-Merino, C., Mateos, D.,
Toledano, C., Brute, F.-N., Bassette, C., Gobinddass, M., 2020. Assessment of a new de-
tection threshold for PM10 concentrations linked to African dust events in the Caribbean
Basin. Atmospheric Environment. 117354.
(2) Plocoste, T., Carmona-Cabezas, R., Jim´enez-Hornero, F.J., Guti´errez de Rav´e, E., 2021.
Background PM10 atmosphere: In the seek of a multifractal characterization using complex
networks. Journal of Aerosol Science. 155, 105777.
Mots-Cl´es: Optical data, VPSD, PM2.5/PM10 ratio, Caribbean area
sciencesconf.org:jobim2023:460843