Estimating the Wind Direction of Maximum Air Pollutant Concentration

Abstract

SUMMARYThe evaluation of evidence concerning the existence and nature of associations between concentrations of air pollutants and wind direction can aid in investigating relationships between an emission source and measured pollutant levels at nearby sites. In this paper we present a model based on the beta function which can be used to provide an estimate of the direction of maximum pollutant concentration with a corresponding confidence interval. The model was fitted to meteorological and pollutant concentration data collected during two time periods at a site near Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Estimates and confidence intervals are reported, accompanied with results of hypothesis tests concerning the existence of associations between wind direction and pollutant concentration. Some implications of the results for future monitoring efforts are discussed.

Statistical analysis of atmospheric trace metals and particulate fractions in Islamabad, Pakistan

“…The present study is carried out to investigate the relationship among atmospheric concentration of trace metals (Fe, Na, Zn, K, Pb, Mn, Cr, Ni, Co and Cd), particulate fractions (PM <1.0 , PM 1.0-2.5 , PM 2.5-5 , PM 5-10 , PM [10][11][12][13][14][15] , PM [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] , PM , PM 50-100 and PM >100 ) and climatic parameters measured during the monitoring period. PCA along with CA is used for the source identification for airborne trace metals following the course of action reported in literature [25,26].…”

Characterization, Source Identification and Apportionment of Selected Metals in TSP in an Urban Atmosphere

“…Both wind speed and wind direction have also been reported to have a correlation for fine and coarse particle fractions of TSP (Cheng and Lam, 1998;Harrison et al, 1997;Monn et al, 1995). Wind direction has been used as data input in models for forecasting metal concentration maxima and estimating the trends of optimal concentrations (Somerville et al, 1996;Ziomas et al, 1995). In general, heavy metal burden in the atmosphere is reported to be a useful index for health assessment, although this comprises only a meagre proposition of TSP, and some other effects related to primary and secondary pollutants are also significantly important (Harrison et al, 2003;Salam et al, 2003;Zheng and Fang, 2000).…”

A Study of Airborne Selected Metals and Particle Size Distribution in Relation to Climatic Variables and their Source Identification

“…Wind speed and direction have also been reported as important parameters for a better characterization of heavy metal behaviour in fine and coarse particle fractions (Chelani et al, 2001;Harrison et al, 1997;Cheng and Lam, 1998). Wind direction has been used as data input for models forecasting metal concentration maxima and estimating the direction of optimal concentrations (Ziomas et al, 1995;Somerville et al, 1996). Moreover, heavy metal concentrations are accepted as a useful index of air quality, even though measured data relative to other primary and secondary pollutants in the atmosphere are not available, thus providing indirect information on the presence of such pollutants (Zheng and Fang, 2000;Harrison et al, 2003;Colombo et al, 1999).…”