title: Identification of potential sources of airborne Olea pollen in the Southwest Iberian Peninsula.
abstract: This study aims to determine the potential origin of Olea pollen recorded in Badajoz in the Southwest of the Iberian Peninsula during 2009-2011. This was achieved using a combination of daily average and diurnal (hourly) airborne Olea pollen counts recorded at Badajoz (south-western Spain) and Évora (south-eastern Portugal), an inventory of olive groves in the studied area and air mass trajectory calculations computed using the HYSPLIT model. Examining olive pollen episodes at Badajoz that had distinctly different diurnal cycles in olive pollen in relation to the mean, allowed us to identify three different scenarios where olive pollen can be transported to the city from either distant or nearby sources during conditions with slow air mass movements. Back trajectory analysis showed that olive pollen can be transported to Badajoz from the West on prevailing winds, either directly or on slow moving air masses, and from high densities of olive groves situated to the Southeast (e.g. Andalucía). Regional scale transport of olive pollen can result in increased nighttime concentrations of this important aeroallergen. This could be particularly important in Mediterranean countries where people can be outdoors during this time due to climate and lifestyle. Such studies that examine sources and the atmospheric transport of pollen are valuable for allergy sufferers and health care professionals because the information can be incorporated into forecasts, the outputs of which are used for avoiding exposure to aeroallergens and planning medication. The results of studies of this nature can also be used for examining gene flow in this important agricultural crop.
authors: Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Extremadura, Avda. Elvas s/n, 06071, Badajoz, Spain, santiferro@unex.es.
authors: Santiago
authors: S
authors: Fernández-Rodríguez
authors: Carsten Ambelas
authors: CA
authors: Skjøth
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Tormo-Molina
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Brandao
authors: Elsa
authors: E
authors: Caeiro
authors: Inmaculada
authors: I
authors: Silva-Palacios
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Gonzalo-Garijo
authors: Matt
authors: M
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002980:Climate; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry*; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry*; D011174:Portugal; D012621:Seasons; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens