Relationships between Vertical Temperature Gradients and PM10 Concentrations during Selected Weather Conditions in Upper Silesia (Southern Poland)

Abstract

This paper studies surface air temperature inversions and their impact on air pollution under the background of meteorological conditions in southern Poland. The relationship of temperature gradients and air quality classes with weather conditions in the most urbanized and polluted part of Poland as represented by the Upper Silesia region (USR) within the administrative boundaries of the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolis (GZM) is presented. Based on probability analysis this study hierarchized the role of the selected weather elements in the development of surface-based temperature inversion (SBI) and air quality (AQ). The thresholds of weather elements for a rapid increase in the probability of oppressive air pollution episodes were distinguished. Although most SBI occurred in summer winter SBIs were of great importance. In that season a bad air quality occurred during >70% of strong inversions and >50% of moderate inversions. Air temperature more strongly triggered AQ than SBI development. Wind speed was critical for SBI and significant for AQ development. A low cloudiness favored SBI occurrence altered air quality in winter and spring during SBI and favored very bad AQ5 (>180 µg/m3) occurrence. The probability of high air pollution enhanced by SBI rapidly increased in winter when the air temperature dropped below −6 °C the wind speed decreased below 1.5 m/s and the sky was cloudless. Changes in the relative humidity did not induce rapid changes in the occurrence of bad AQ events during SBI

The Impact of Atmospheric Stability Affected by Peat Forest Fire on Surface PM2.5 Concentration in Pontianak Urban Area during La Nina Events 2022

“…The double inversion denotes very stable atmospheric conditions from the surface to the upper layer. The double inversion layer in these two periods causes the pollutants to subside at the surface, resulting in high concentrations [25]. Therefore, high PM2.5 concentrations are not only associated with forest fires but also with inversion layers.…”

“…The inversion layer becomes very important in studying air pollution, especially when the concentration of pollutants, including particulates, is high [4]. Low air quality is caused by the high activity of pollutant sources and the inversion temperature [25]. Even with the increasing frequency of inversion temperature events, there is an increase in patients due to air pollution [26].…”

Indication Variability of the Particulate Matter Sensors Dependent on Their Location

“…The most important are weather conditions. Extended research regarding the region where this investigation was conducted is published elsewhere [ 24 ]. PM depends on the seasons and related parameters.…”