Size-segregated mass distributions of aerosols over Eastern Mediterranean: seasonal variability and comparison with AERONET columnar size-distributions

International audienceThis work provides long-term (2004?2006) size segregated measurements of aerosol mass at a remote coastal station in the southern Europe, with the use of size-selective samplings (SDI impactor). PM2.5 and PM1 account for 60% and 40% of PM10 mass in average, respectively. Seven distinct modes were identified in the range 0?10 ?m and the dominant were the "Accumulation 1" (0.25?0.55 ?m) and the "Coarse 2" (3?7 ?m) modes. Different sources for submicron and supermicron particles were identified, the first being related to local/regional and transported pollution with maximum in summer and the latter to dust from deserted areas in Northern Africa maximizing in spring. The representativity of the ground-based measurements for the total column was also investigated by comparing the measured aerosol mass distributions with the AERONET volume size distribution data and similar seasonal patterns were revealed