title: Are the Pyrenees a barrier for the transport of birch (Betula) pollen from Central Europe to the Iberian Peninsula?
abstract: This work provides a first assessment of the possible barrier effect of the Pyrenees on the atmospheric transport of airborne pollen from Europe to the North of the Iberian Peninsula. Aerobiological data recorded in three Spanish stations located at the eastern, central and western base of the Pyrenees in the period 2004-2014 have been used to identify the possible long range transport episodes of Betula pollen. The atmospheric transport routes and the origin regions have been established by means of trajectory analysis and a source receptor model. Betula pollen outbreaks were associated with the meteorological scenario characterized by the presence of a high-pressure system overm over Morocco and Southern Iberian Peninsula. France and Central Europe have been identified as the probable source areas of Betula pollen that arrives to Northern Spain. However, the specific source areas are mainly determined by the particular prevailing atmospheric circulation of each location. Finally, the Weather Research and Forecasting model highlighted the effect of the orography on the atmospheric transport patterns, showing paths through the western and easternmost lowlands for Vitoria-Gasteiz and Bellaterra respectively, and the direct impact of air flows over Vielha through the Garona valley.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Física, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Avda. Eduard Maristany 10-14. 08019 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.affiliation: Departament de Física, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Avda. Eduard Maristany 10-14. 08019 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: marta.alarcon@upc.edu.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alarcón
authors.affiliation: Departament de Física, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Avda. Eduard Maristany 10-14. 08019 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mazón
authors.affiliation: Departament de Física, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Avda. Eduard Maristany 10-14. 08019 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC-UPC), Gran Capità 2-4, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pino
authors.affiliation: Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Edifici C, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; Institut de Ciencia i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Edifici Z, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Linares
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Salud Pública. Dirección de Salud Pública y Adicciones. Departamento de Salud del Gobierno Vasco, c/Santiago 11, 01008 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Xabier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Aguinagalde
authors.affiliation: Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Edifici C, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; Institut de Ciencia i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Edifici Z, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Belmonte
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D001272:Atmosphere; D029662:Betula; D005060:Europe; D005602:France; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009018:Morocco; D011058:Pollen; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: Aerobiology; Birch pollen in Spain; Pollen long-range transport; Source-receptor model