Antonio Donateo, Teresa Lo Feudo, Angela Marinoni, Adelaide Dinoi, Elenio Avolio, Eva Merico, Claudia R. Calidonna, Daniele Contini and Paolo Bonasoni,  Atmosphere 2018, 9, 369; doi:10.3390/atmos9100369

In this work, results of scattering and backscattering coefficients, scattering Ångström exponent (SAE), single scattering albedo (SSA), and asymmetry parameter (g) of atmospheric aerosols are presented. All these parameters were measured during the month of April 2016 in Southern Italy on three different Global Atmosphere Watch observatories in the Central Mediterranean. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that optical aerosol properties were studied at the same time, even if in a brief intensive measurement campaign, at three sites in the South of Italy. In order to obtain a characteristic value for aerosol optical properties, different kinds of particle sources (i.e., dust, marine, and anthropic) have been identified and studied. In the measurement period, one event of a long-range transport of Saharan dust from Northern Africa was observed at all observatories. During the Saharan dust transport event, a minimum value of the SAE (0.69 ± 0.34) and a relatively higher values of SSA were observed. During the dust event, g increased up to 0.69. Marine aerosol contribution and anthropic/urban aerosol intrusion were analysed. From this analysis, SAE average values were 0.70, 0.84, and 1.22, respectively, for dust, marine, and anthropic particles. On the other hand, the SSA minimum value was 0.86 for anthropic particles, and it increased for dust (0.88) and marine (0.93) aerosols. The asymmetry parameter had a limited variability for the three types of aerosol from 0.62 to 0.58, as reported also in literature.

contact: Antonio Donateo, a.donateo@isac.cnr.it

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Air pollution is a key environmental and social issue and, at the same time, it is a complex problem posing multiple challenges in terms of management and mitigation of harmful pollutants. Air pollutants are emitted from anthropogenic and natural sources; they may be either emitted directly (primary pollutants) or formed in the atmosphere (as secondary pollutants). They have a number of impacts on health, ecosystems, the built environment and the climate; they may be transported or formed over long distances; and they may affect large areas. Effective action to reduce the impacts of air pollution requires a good understanding of its causes, how pollutants are transported and transformed in the atmosphere, and how they affect humans, ecosystems, the climate, and subsequently society and the economy.

The current report presents an updated overview and analysis of air quality in Europe from 2000 to 2015. It reviews the progress made towards meeting the air quality standards established in the two European Ambient Air Quality Directives, and towards the long‑term objectives of achieving levels of air pollution that do not lead to unacceptable harm to human health and the environment. It also presents the latest findings and estimates on population and ecosystem exposure to the air pollutants with the greatest impacts and effects on human health and the environment (Box ES.1). The evaluation of the status of air quality is based mainly on ambient air measurements, in conjunction with data on anthropogenic emissions and their evolution over time.

Air quality policies have delivered, and continue to deliver, many improvements. Reduced emissions have improved air quality in Europe, and, for a number of pollutants, exceedances of European standards are rare. However, substantial challenges remain and considerable impacts on human health and on the environment persist. A large proportion of European populations and ecosystems are still exposed to air pollution that exceeds European standards and, especially, the World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs).

Effective air quality policies require action and cooperation at global, European, national and local levels, which must reach across most economic sectors and engage the public. Holistic solutions must be found that involve technological development and structural and behavioural changes. These will be necessary to achieve human wellbeing and social development, to protect the natural capital and to support economic prosperity, all of which are part of the European Union’s (EU) 2050 vision of living well within the limits of the planet.

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1IAMC – CNR (Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero, Napoli) 2INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Pisa)

This paper describes the results of the activities performed during the project PONa3_00363 I-AMICA (High Technology Infrastructure for Climate and Environment Monitoring; www.i-amica.it), as part of the activities of Development Objective 4.4 (Processes of the biosphere-hydrosphere interface and features of coastal ecosystems).

Through the strengthening of scientific-technological infrastructure and equipment, I-AMICA was planned to increase the observational capacity of the monitoring of marine coastal ecosystems, particularly vulnerable in the sensitive Mediterranean area and strictly connected to the natural and anthropic continental system. For this reason research activities were mainly focused on the neritic environment adjacent to the shelf area of the Volturno River mouth (Gulf of Gaeta – central part of the Tyrrhenian Sea). Advanced knowledge on the dynamics in time of marine coastal ecosystems, in relation to the physical, chemical and biological processes that characterize their habitat, were acquired while new methods of integrated monitoring, in relation to the specific characteristics of the study area, were tested. Particular attention was given to the identification of bio-indicators in water column and sediment at sea floor. The monitoring was also integrated by studies on the shoreline changes, seismic stratigraphy of deltaic deposits and by sedimentology and morpho-bathymetry of the seabed.

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For this year’s World Environment Day, millions of people around the globe will answer the call to ‘connect with nature,’ celebrating the day by going to a park or heading to the beach and taking forward the call to protect the Earth that we share.

World Environment Day is the biggest annual event for positive environmental action and takes place every 5 June, with this year’s host country Canada at the centre of celebrations around the planet.

There will also be some World Environment Day related outreach activities in Brussels in the month of June, for which we will keep you updated.

World Environment Day is for everyone, everywhere: whether you live in a city or the countryside, in the developed or developing world, in the invigorating chill of cold regions or the sultry heat of the tropics. Since it began in 1972, global citizens have organized many thousands of events, from neighbourhood clean-ups, to action against the illegal trade in wildlife, to replanting forests.

“We can enjoy nature year-round, but World Environment Day is when the whole world comes together to celebrate our beautiful planet,” said Erik Solheim, the head of UN Environment. “It reminds us of what a treasure nature is, and encourages us all to protect and appreciate our environment.”

Starting today, UN Environment and the Government of Canada are calling on citizens all over the world to think about how we depend on nature, and to find fun and exciting ways to experience and cherish that vital relationship.

The options for how to mark World Environment Day are vast. This year, why not follow the example of the citizens of Mumbai, India and organize a mass clean-up? Canada is offering free entry to its national parks and marine conservation areas. So why not take your friends, family or colleagues and discover a wilderness area near you?

Your activity doesn’t have to take place on 5 June itself. UN Environment, for instance, will soon begin testing your knowledge and raising your appreciation of a healthy environment with competitions and online quizzes and provide a whole menu of ideas to help you celebrate the day.

In the age of asphalt and smartphones and among the distractions of modern life, connections with nature can be fleeting. But with your help, World Environment Day can make clearer than ever that we need harmony between humanity and nature so that both are able to thrive.

Check the World Environment Day website (http://worldenvironmentday.global/theme) for details of this year’s campaign. You can sign up there to receive all of our updates in the run-up to World Environment Day 2017.

https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/unep/event/world-environment-day-5-june-2017

http://www.un.org/en/events/environmentday/

http://worldenvironmentday.global/en/about/connecting-people-nature

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International Mother Earth Day is celebrated to remind each of us that the Earth and its ecosystems provide us with life and sustenance.

It also recognizes a collective responsibility, as called for in the 1992 Rio Declaration, to promote harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations of humanity.

International Mother Earth Day provides an opportunity to raise public awareness around the world to the challenges regarding the well-being of the planet and all the life it supports.

The theme for 2017 is “Environmental & Climate Literacy”.

Education is the foundation for progress. We need to build a global citizenry fluent in the concepts of climate change and aware of its unprecedented threat to our planet. We need to empower everyone with the knowledge to inspire action in defense of environmental protection.

Environmental and climate literacy is the engine not only for creating green voters and advancing environmental and climate laws and policies but also for accelerating green technologies and jobs.

from: http://www.un.org/en/events/motherearthday/

To do this, the world celebrates on 22 April the Earth Day with events and conventions.

In Italy the main events are in Rome and Caserta. Just in Caserta, at the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” on 21 April took place the event Cambiamo Marcia – Caserta Italy #marchforscience.

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