Characterising NO2, Its Temporal Variability and Association with Meteorology A Case Study in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of the most harmful pollutants in terms of its adverse effects on human health and natural environment. This paper intends to characterise NO2 in Makkah, aiming to analyse its temporal variations and association with meteorological parameters. NO2 data from two monitori...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Thai Society of Higher Eduction Institutes on Environment
2015-07-01
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| Series: | EnvironmentAsia |
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| Online Access: | http://www.tshe.org/ea/pdf/vol8no2-05.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819129273436340224 |
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| author | Turki M. Habeebullah |
| author_facet | Turki M. Habeebullah |
| author_sort | Turki M. Habeebullah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of the most harmful pollutants in terms of its adverse effects on human health and natural environment. This paper intends to characterise NO2 in Makkah, aiming to analyse its temporal variations and association with meteorological parameters. NO2 data from two monitoring stations: (1) the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME); and Masfalah monitoring stations were used in this paper. Long term daily data (1996 - 2013) used for determining historical trends of NO2 were collected at the PME site, whereas hourly data for 2012 were collected at both PME and Masfalah sites. NO2 levels were compared with WHO and Saudi National air quality standards, the former standards were violated in every single year, whereas the latter were exceeded only in 1999. Hourly NO2 concentrations seem to be at acceptable levels and have not violated the air quality standards. Long term temporal trends determined by TheilSen function showed decreasing trend in both NO (-0.15 μg3/year) and NO2 (-0.22 μg3/year) concentrations, which is probably an indicator of improvement in exhaust emissions from road traffic and other emission sources, most probably due to stringent emission policies by the government of Saudi Arabia. The ratios of NO2/NO have increased and show positive trend (0.04 μg3/year), however the trend is not significant. Temporal variations of NO2 are analysed during various hours of the day and days of the week. Considerable lower levels of NO2 were observed in the afternoon, which can be linked with high levels of solar radiation and temperature that accelerate photochemical dissociation of NO2 into NO and atomic oxygen. Furthermore, the effect of temperature, wind speed and direction on NO2 is analysed, which highlighted the importance of meteorological parameters in controlling the levels of NO2. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:41:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-93fa386c34e24658a1570f6bbfe37272 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1906-1714 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:41:06Z |
| publishDate | 2015-07-01 |
| publisher | Thai Society of Higher Eduction Institutes on Environment |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EnvironmentAsia |
| spelling | doaj.art-93fa386c34e24658a1570f6bbfe372722022-12-21T18:32:13ZengThai Society of Higher Eduction Institutes on EnvironmentEnvironmentAsia1906-17142015-07-01823744Characterising NO2, Its Temporal Variability and Association with Meteorology A Case Study in Makkah, Saudi ArabiaTurki M. Habeebullah0Department of Environmental and Health Research, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, The Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaNitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of the most harmful pollutants in terms of its adverse effects on human health and natural environment. This paper intends to characterise NO2 in Makkah, aiming to analyse its temporal variations and association with meteorological parameters. NO2 data from two monitoring stations: (1) the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME); and Masfalah monitoring stations were used in this paper. Long term daily data (1996 - 2013) used for determining historical trends of NO2 were collected at the PME site, whereas hourly data for 2012 were collected at both PME and Masfalah sites. NO2 levels were compared with WHO and Saudi National air quality standards, the former standards were violated in every single year, whereas the latter were exceeded only in 1999. Hourly NO2 concentrations seem to be at acceptable levels and have not violated the air quality standards. Long term temporal trends determined by TheilSen function showed decreasing trend in both NO (-0.15 μg3/year) and NO2 (-0.22 μg3/year) concentrations, which is probably an indicator of improvement in exhaust emissions from road traffic and other emission sources, most probably due to stringent emission policies by the government of Saudi Arabia. The ratios of NO2/NO have increased and show positive trend (0.04 μg3/year), however the trend is not significant. Temporal variations of NO2 are analysed during various hours of the day and days of the week. Considerable lower levels of NO2 were observed in the afternoon, which can be linked with high levels of solar radiation and temperature that accelerate photochemical dissociation of NO2 into NO and atomic oxygen. Furthermore, the effect of temperature, wind speed and direction on NO2 is analysed, which highlighted the importance of meteorological parameters in controlling the levels of NO2.http://www.tshe.org/ea/pdf/vol8no2-05.pdfnitrogen dioxideair pollutionmeteorological parameterstemporal trendtemporal variationsMakkah - Saudi Arabia |
| spellingShingle | Turki M. Habeebullah Characterising NO2, Its Temporal Variability and Association with Meteorology A Case Study in Makkah, Saudi Arabia EnvironmentAsia nitrogen dioxide air pollution meteorological parameters temporal trend temporal variations Makkah - Saudi Arabia |
| title | Characterising NO2, Its Temporal Variability and Association with Meteorology A Case Study in Makkah, Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Characterising NO2, Its Temporal Variability and Association with Meteorology A Case Study in Makkah, Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Characterising NO2, Its Temporal Variability and Association with Meteorology A Case Study in Makkah, Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterising NO2, Its Temporal Variability and Association with Meteorology A Case Study in Makkah, Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Characterising NO2, Its Temporal Variability and Association with Meteorology A Case Study in Makkah, Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | characterising no2 its temporal variability and association with meteorology a case study in makkah saudi arabia |
| topic | nitrogen dioxide air pollution meteorological parameters temporal trend temporal variations Makkah - Saudi Arabia |
| url | http://www.tshe.org/ea/pdf/vol8no2-05.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT turkimhabeebullah characterisingno2itstemporalvariabilityandassociationwithmeteorologyacasestudyinmakkahsaudiarabia |