English Abstract Various meteorological conditions, especially the
presence of a very low and strong temperature inversion and the absence of
wind, caused a sharp increase of atmospheric pollutants during the
festivities at the turn of the year 1992. Especially the concentrations of
fine particles were extremely high. The monitoring network for fine
particles was implemented during the years 1992 and 1993, therefore no
reliable estimate was available of concentrations at the turn of other years
under normal meteorological conditions. The meteorological conditions at
the turn of the year 1993 were normal. Concentrations of fine particles
(PM10) over the first hour of the new year were, averaged over urban
monitoring sites, about 500 mug/m3. The concentrations of SO2, CO and NO
were higher than expected. Measurements were available on the change of the
concentrations within the first hour of 1994, concentrations were highest
during the first half hour. The composition of the fine particles was in
agreement with measurements of the previous year.
