Longpath-DOAS-measurements of formaldehyde in Alzate (Lombardia/Italy) during the FORMAT summer campaign (July/Aug. 2002)

Longpath-DOAS-measurements of formaldehyde (HCHO) and other pollutants were performed during a field campaign in Alzate near Milano/Italy. The campaign was part of the European project FORMAT (FORMaldehyde As a Tracer of photooxidation in the troposphere) and covered the time period between 22.07.2002 and 20.08.2002. The main aims of this project are to obtain a better knowledge of the chemistry and distribution of HCHO in the troposphere and the improvement of analysis techniques for the measurement of formaldehyde. As one of the largest urban and industrial regions in Europe the metropolitan area of Milano was chosen. In this area, both pollutant emissions and solar radiation are high during summer - so the photochemically produced HCHO is enhanced by direct emissions. The temporal evolution of the trace gases HCHO, NO2, O3, and SO2 during the observed time span is shown in consideration of the meteorological conditions.