A Survey of Regional-Scale Blocking Patterns and Effects on Air Quality in Ontario, Canada
Blocking weather patterns cause persistent weather situations that alter typical wind and circulation patterns which may result in stagnant weather conditions at the surface and potentially adverse conditions that affect society, such as extended warmth, drought, precipitation or fog. One problem th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-06-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/9/6/226 |
| _version_ | 1819048398125268992 |
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| author | Frank Dempsey |
| author_facet | Frank Dempsey |
| author_sort | Frank Dempsey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Blocking weather patterns cause persistent weather situations that alter typical wind and circulation patterns which may result in stagnant weather conditions at the surface and potentially adverse conditions that affect society, such as extended warmth, drought, precipitation or fog. One problem that may develop is adverse concentrations of air pollutants in populated regions that may persist for several days or longer. This study looks for possible correlation between blocking patterns and air quality episodes in southern Ontario, Canada. The method used was examination of various cases of air quality episodes. The meteorological details of these examples were examined to determine possible correlations with blocking patterns. Results of the comparisons revealed that various types of blocking patterns correlated with worsening air quality episodes in various regions of southern Ontario. The conclusion is that some large-scale as well as regional-scale blocking patterns may cause adverse air quality in different cities or regions of the province during any month, and forecasters need to be vigilant for these patterns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T11:15:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-51e8b9029603429a99ef1c01ffdd853e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T11:15:37Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-51e8b9029603429a99ef1c01ffdd853e2022-12-21T19:05:55ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332018-06-019622610.3390/atmos9060226atmos9060226A Survey of Regional-Scale Blocking Patterns and Effects on Air Quality in Ontario, CanadaFrank Dempsey0Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch, Ontario Ministry of Environment, Etobicoke, ON M9P 3V6, CanadaBlocking weather patterns cause persistent weather situations that alter typical wind and circulation patterns which may result in stagnant weather conditions at the surface and potentially adverse conditions that affect society, such as extended warmth, drought, precipitation or fog. One problem that may develop is adverse concentrations of air pollutants in populated regions that may persist for several days or longer. This study looks for possible correlation between blocking patterns and air quality episodes in southern Ontario, Canada. The method used was examination of various cases of air quality episodes. The meteorological details of these examples were examined to determine possible correlations with blocking patterns. Results of the comparisons revealed that various types of blocking patterns correlated with worsening air quality episodes in various regions of southern Ontario. The conclusion is that some large-scale as well as regional-scale blocking patterns may cause adverse air quality in different cities or regions of the province during any month, and forecasters need to be vigilant for these patterns.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/9/6/226air qualityblock patternozonePM2.5synoptic meteorology |
| spellingShingle | Frank Dempsey A Survey of Regional-Scale Blocking Patterns and Effects on Air Quality in Ontario, Canada Atmosphere air quality block pattern ozone PM2.5 synoptic meteorology |
| title | A Survey of Regional-Scale Blocking Patterns and Effects on Air Quality in Ontario, Canada |
| title_full | A Survey of Regional-Scale Blocking Patterns and Effects on Air Quality in Ontario, Canada |
| title_fullStr | A Survey of Regional-Scale Blocking Patterns and Effects on Air Quality in Ontario, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Survey of Regional-Scale Blocking Patterns and Effects on Air Quality in Ontario, Canada |
| title_short | A Survey of Regional-Scale Blocking Patterns and Effects on Air Quality in Ontario, Canada |
| title_sort | survey of regional scale blocking patterns and effects on air quality in ontario canada |
| topic | air quality block pattern ozone PM2.5 synoptic meteorology |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/9/6/226 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT frankdempsey asurveyofregionalscaleblockingpatternsandeffectsonairqualityinontariocanada AT frankdempsey surveyofregionalscaleblockingpatternsandeffectsonairqualityinontariocanada |