Assessment of Environmental Parameters in Natural Coastal Scenery and Compositional by Means of an Innovative Approach

Three measurement campaigns were conducted on the island of Culuccia (Sardinia, Italy) to evaluate particulate matter (PM) concentrations and the contribution of sea spray aerosol (SSA) across different seasons in a largely uncontaminated coastal environment. The goal is not only to analyze PM concentration in relation to meteorological parameters such as temperature, relative humidity (rH), and wind speed but also to provide a chemical analysis of SSA. The chemical composition of PM was determined using Raman spectroscopy and SEM-EDX, allowing for precise identification of individual particles. Results showed seasonal variations in PM composition, with sodium nitrate and sodium chloride prevalent in March and June and sulfates dominating in October. A correlation between the PM composition and meteorological parameters was observed according to the value of the deliquescence relative humidity (DRH), highlighting the reciprocal influence of rH and coarse and fine PM trends. This multi-technique approach offers valuable insights into the relative abundance of different PM compound classes based on the varying conditions for SSA formation. This enhances our understanding of the behavior of sea spray aerosol and other PM in natural coastal environments.