Directional active sampling

High volume directional samplers were developed for the MONAIRNET project. There are two types: (1)  high volume directional sampler, which is designed for sampling of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polybrominnated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and perfluoroctansulphonylchloride (PFOS) and (2)  low volume sampler designed for the sampling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) .

These samplers are designed to collect individual samples divided according to the direction of air mass origin. Four sectors of air mass origin relevant to each site were defined for both locations where these samplers were deployed (Košetice, Grünbach). The first two sectors accounted for regional transport (short distance transport) with 24 hour back-trajectories less than 150 km long. The other two sectors accounted for long-range transport (long distance transport), with 24 -hour back-trajectories longer than 150 km. Each sector had its own filters and gas-phase samplers to collect both particulate and gas-phase fractions from each air sector.

Based on daily forecast of air mass origin including updating, the sampler was remotely configured to select the branch/sampling head/filter/sorbent corresponding with that direction. Samples were collected over 3 month periods. The sampling was controlled remotely using PC application software.