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Spatial variation of airborne pollen over south-east France: characterization and implications for monitoring networks management

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Abstract

The French airborne pollen monitoring network (RNSA) is currently regrouping 70 Hirst-type pollen traps covering the whole French territory. The aim of this paper is to introduce a simple statistical methodology that can be used to characterize pollen spatial variation. This pilot study is restricted to a limited portion of the RNSA network (18 monitoring stations), eight taxa of allergenic relevance, and a 3-year period (2003–2005). The first step of the approach consisted in quantifying the trap-to-trap pollen similarities on the basis of an original index, called mean Pollinic Distance (mPD), that relies on the comparison of pollen concentration time series. Regression analyses were next conducted with different spatial variables. Distance, latitude and altitude differences were identified as significant predictors of pollen variations, as measured by mPD. In order to further characterize pollen spatial properties, cluster analysis was performed with mPD as the distance estimate. Interestingly, the clusters of sites identified on the basis of the similarity of their pollen profiles, correspond to distinct geographic areas that might be interpreted as homogeneous air masses. The results have major implications for monitoring networks management since they provide an objective basis (1) for choosing the relevant scale to elaborate and supply pollen-related information, and (2) for optimizing networks configuration.

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Notes

  1. This spatial domain would include St Etienne, Lyon, and Roussillon.

  2. The area of coverage of a Hirst-type pollen trap is usually considered to be a disk, and 50 km is an often cited figure for its diameter. It is interesting to compare this value to results presented in Fig. 4a showing that at around this distance criterion mPD values range from 0.32 (Chalon-sur-Saône–Dijon; similar pollen properties) to 0.65 (Lyon–St Etienne; strongly different profiles) clearly indicating that this figure has to be used with some caution.

Abbreviations

MPD:

Mean Pollinic Distance

PD:

Pollinic Distance

RNSA:

French Airborne Pollen Monitoring Network (Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique)

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Bernard Clot, Jean-Pierre Besancenot, and Paul Comtois for assistance with drafting the manuscript and the anonymous referees for providing very helpful comments. We are grateful to MeteoSwiss for allowing the use of the data collected in Geneva. This research has benefited from the financial support of ADEME (Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique, Chemin des Gardes, BP 8, Saint-Genis-l’Argentiere, 69610, France

    Camille Rieux & Michel Thibaudon

  2. ASCOPARG, 44 avenue Marcelin Berthelot, Grenoble, 38100, France

    Marie-Blanche Personnaz

  3. SUP’AIR, 22 rue Nicolas Avit, BP 345, Salaise-sur-Sanne, 38150 , France

    Marie-Blanche Personnaz

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  1. Camille Rieux
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  2. Marie-Blanche Personnaz
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  3. Michel Thibaudon
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Correspondence to Camille Rieux.

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Rieux, C., Personnaz, MB. & Thibaudon, M. Spatial variation of airborne pollen over south-east France: characterization and implications for monitoring networks management. Aerobiologia 24, 43–52 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-007-9081-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-007-9081-z

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