Measurements of Ozone, Black Carbon and Particle Size Distributions Along a Mediterranean Cruise Track During the Period: October 2005-October 2006

High levels of ozone as well as particles, including Black Carbon (BC), have been observed at sites around the Mediterranean Sea, and several studies have shown very high aerosol radiative forcing in the area, but systematical, long term observations are scarce. A collaboration between the JRC and the Italian company ‘Costa Crociere’ has allowed to install a monitoring station on board the cruise liner ‘Costa Fortuna’ that performs cruises on the Mediterranean, with regular weekly tracks in the Western Mediterranean during spring, summer and autumn, and in the Eastern Mediterranean during winter. Measurements of ozone, Black Carbon (aethalometer) and particle size distributions (optical particle sizer) have been performed, starting from the autumn of 2005; this activity will continue for several years. The measured ozone concentrations are compared to those obtained by simulations in a recent model intercomparison (ACCENT-PHOTOCOM); the initial measurements are in the higher end of the range of modeled values in the winter and in the lower end during the summer. Measured concentrations of ozone and BC in 2006 are compared to model simulations for previous years and the results are discussed.