Pillars of Solution for the Problem of Winter PM<sub>2.5</sub> Variability in Fresno—Effects of Local Meteorology and Emissions
The mass composition of Particulate Matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) in San Joaquin Valley (SJV) is dominated by ammonium nitrate (NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>), a secondary pollutant. The goal of this research was the inv...
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MDPI AG
2020-03-01
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/3/312 |
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author | Thishan Dharshana Karandana Gamalathge Mark C. Green William R. Stockwell |
author_facet | Thishan Dharshana Karandana Gamalathge Mark C. Green William R. Stockwell |
author_sort | Thishan Dharshana Karandana Gamalathge |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The mass composition of Particulate Matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) in San Joaquin Valley (SJV) is dominated by ammonium nitrate (NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>), a secondary pollutant. The goal of this research was the investigation of the relationship between emissions, meteorology and PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations in Fresno for the winter season. It was found that location of sites near emission sources such as freeways compared with residential sites strongly affected measured PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations. It was found that although long-term trends showed declines in both emissions and PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations, there was substantial variability between the years in the PM<sub>2.5</sub>−emissions relationship. Much of the yearly variation in the relationship between emissions and PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations can be attributed to yearly variations in weather, such as atmospheric stability, precipitation frequency and average wind speed. There are moderate correlations between PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations and temperature differences between nearby surface stations at varying elevations which explains some of the daily and seasonal variation in PM<sub>2.5</sub>. Occurrence of precipitation was related to low PM <sub>2.5</sub>, although the higher wind speeds and lower atmospheric stability associated with precipitation likely explain some of the low PM<sub>2.5</sub> as well as washout of PM. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-21T18:45:47Z |
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institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2073-4433 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-21T18:45:47Z |
publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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series | Atmosphere |
spelling | doaj.art-00a6147985e54c98a56616771ee6fdcd2022-12-21T18:53:53ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-03-0111331210.3390/atmos11030312atmos11030312Pillars of Solution for the Problem of Winter PM<sub>2.5</sub> Variability in Fresno—Effects of Local Meteorology and EmissionsThishan Dharshana Karandana Gamalathge0Mark C. Green1William R. Stockwell2Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USADivision of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USADivision of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USAThe mass composition of Particulate Matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) in San Joaquin Valley (SJV) is dominated by ammonium nitrate (NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>), a secondary pollutant. The goal of this research was the investigation of the relationship between emissions, meteorology and PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations in Fresno for the winter season. It was found that location of sites near emission sources such as freeways compared with residential sites strongly affected measured PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations. It was found that although long-term trends showed declines in both emissions and PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations, there was substantial variability between the years in the PM<sub>2.5</sub>−emissions relationship. Much of the yearly variation in the relationship between emissions and PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations can be attributed to yearly variations in weather, such as atmospheric stability, precipitation frequency and average wind speed. There are moderate correlations between PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations and temperature differences between nearby surface stations at varying elevations which explains some of the daily and seasonal variation in PM<sub>2.5</sub>. Occurrence of precipitation was related to low PM <sub>2.5</sub>, although the higher wind speeds and lower atmospheric stability associated with precipitation likely explain some of the low PM<sub>2.5</sub> as well as washout of PM.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/3/312air pollutionpm<sub>2.5</sub>sjvwinterstabilitymeteorology |
spellingShingle | Thishan Dharshana Karandana Gamalathge Mark C. Green William R. Stockwell Pillars of Solution for the Problem of Winter PM<sub>2.5</sub> Variability in Fresno—Effects of Local Meteorology and Emissions Atmosphere air pollution pm<sub>2.5</sub> sjv winter stability meteorology |
title | Pillars of Solution for the Problem of Winter PM<sub>2.5</sub> Variability in Fresno—Effects of Local Meteorology and Emissions |
title_full | Pillars of Solution for the Problem of Winter PM<sub>2.5</sub> Variability in Fresno—Effects of Local Meteorology and Emissions |
title_fullStr | Pillars of Solution for the Problem of Winter PM<sub>2.5</sub> Variability in Fresno—Effects of Local Meteorology and Emissions |
title_full_unstemmed | Pillars of Solution for the Problem of Winter PM<sub>2.5</sub> Variability in Fresno—Effects of Local Meteorology and Emissions |
title_short | Pillars of Solution for the Problem of Winter PM<sub>2.5</sub> Variability in Fresno—Effects of Local Meteorology and Emissions |
title_sort | pillars of solution for the problem of winter pm sub 2 5 sub variability in fresno effects of local meteorology and emissions |
topic | air pollution pm<sub>2.5</sub> sjv winter stability meteorology |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/3/312 |
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