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This study presents the year-round variability of the water-soluble fraction of trace elements (wsTE) and rare earth elements (wsREE) among size segregated airborne particulate matter samples collected at Ny-Ålesund in the Svalbard Archipelago from 26 February 2018 to 26 February 2019. Six different aerosol dimensional fractions were collected using a multi-stage Andersen impactor to better understand local and global circulation with the aim of disentangling the source of inorganic tracers from specific natural or anthropogenic sources. The wsTE and wsREE content, especially in the finest fractions in remote areas, is primarily related to long-range transport and it gives valuable information on (1) the global circulation, (2) the natural sources and (3) the contribution of human activities to aerosol composition. A Factor Analysis was applied to the dataset, including levoglucosan and methanesulfonic acid (MSA), to assess the possibility of using certain inorganic tracers as indicators of specific transport events or circulation regimes. We also investigate back-trajectories to determine potential source areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of atmospheric aerosol collected at the Col Margherita Atmospheric Observatory (46° 22ˈ 0.059ˈˈ N, 11° 47ˈ 30.911ˈˈ E, 2543 m a.s.l.) was investigated during spring and summer 2018. This is the first study of this area and should lead to a better understanding of the aerosol chemical composition in the Southern slope of the Eastern Italian Alps, with the aim of proposing this high altitude site as a background station. Aerosol samples were analyzed to determine several water soluble components (Cl−, Br−, I−, NO 3 −, SO 4 2−, K+, Mg2+, Na+, NH 4 +, Ca2+), organic acids (methanesulfonic acid and C 2 –C 7 carboxylic acids), monosaccharides, alcohol-sugars, levoglucosan and its isomers, sucrose, phenolic compounds, free L- and D-amino acids and photo-oxidation products of α-pinene (cis-pinonic acid and pinic acid). The majority of the mass concentration is explained by ionic species, but the other investigated compounds allow us to study other processes or identify the potential sources. Carboxylic acids and photochemical products of α-pinene were used to study photochemical or oxidative processes. Biomass burning input was evaluated using two specific classes of biomarkers: anhydrosugars and phenolic compounds, while biogenic inputs were studied using sugars and free amino acids. None of these water soluble organic compounds have been properly investigated previously in alpine sites because their concentrations in aerosol are very low. • Chemical composition of aerosol collected at Col Margherita Atmospheric Observatory. • First investigation of water soluble organic compounds in alpine sites. • Col Margherita Atmospheric Observatory as background site in the Eastern Italian Alps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]