Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 9 2 2009 10.5194/acpd-9-6283-2009 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/6283/2009/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/6283/2009/acpd-9-6283-2009.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/6283/2009/acpd-9-6283-2009.pdf 6283 6324 2009-03-09 Exploring atmospheric boundary layer characteristics in a severe SO₂ episode in the north-eastern Adriatic M. T. Prtenjak A. Jeričević T. Nitis Z. B. Klaić Andrija Mohorovičić Geophysical Institute, Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia Laboratory of Geoinformatics and Environmental Application, Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Greece Stable atmospheric conditions are often connected with the occurrence of high pollutant episodes especially in urban or industrial areas. In this work we investigate a severe pollution SO₂ episode observed on 3–5 February 2002 in a coastal industrial town of Rijeka, Croatia. The episode occurred under anticyclonic high pressure conditions during which a fog, low wind speeds and very high daily associated mean SO₂ concentration of 353.5 μg m^−3 were observed. First, the EMEP model was used to evaluate the long-range transport and its contribution to the local SO₂ concentrations. The comparison between the EMEP modelled regional SO₂ concentrations and measured ones in Rijeka showed that the episode was caused predominately by local sources. Furthermore, using three-dimensional, higher-order turbulence closure mesoscale models (WRF and MEMO), the wind regimes and thermo-dynamical structure of the lower troposphere above the greater Rijeka area were examined in detail. The obtained results suggest several factors responsible for elevated SO₂ concentrations. 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