Abstract. In this study, the response of secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA) concentrations to changes in precursor emissions during high PM₁₀ episodes over central Europe in spring 2009 was investigated with the Eulerian Chemistry Transport Model (CTM) REM-Calgrid (RCG). The model performed well in capturing the temporal variation of PM₁₀ and SIA concentrations and was used to analyse the different origin, development and characteristics of the selected high PM₁₀ episodes. SIA concentrations, which contribute to about 50% of the PM₁₀ concentration in northwestern Europe, have been studied by means of several model runs for different emission scenarios. SO₂, NO_x and NH₃ emissions have been varied within a domain covering Germany and within a domain covering Europe. It was confirmed that the response of sulfate, nitrate and ammonium concentrations and deposition fluxes of S and N to SO₂, NO_x and NH₃ emission changes is non-linear. The deviation from linearity was found to be lower for total deposition fluxes of S and N than for SIA concentrations. Furthermore, the study has shown that incorporating explicit cloud chemistry in the model adds non-linear responses to the system. It significantly modifies the response of modelled SIA concentrations and S and N deposition fluxes to changes in precursor emissions. The analysis of emission reduction scenario runs demonstrates that next to European-wide emission reductions additional national NH₃ measures in Germany are more effective in reducing SIA concentrations and deposition fluxes than additional national measures on SO₂ and NO_x.