Seasonal Variation of Criteria Pollutant in an Urban Coastal Environment: Kuala Terengganu

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of this study are (i) to determine the yearly and monsoonal variations of the criteria pollutants in Kuala Terengganu, (ii) identify the influences of the meteorological factors and other minor criteria pollutants that impose on the concentration of the most significant criteria pollutant using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The hourly data for the criteria pollutants (PM10, CO, O3, NO2, and SO2) and meteorological factors (temperature, relative humidity, windspeed) for the duration of 10 years procured from the Department of Environment, Malaysia were analyzed. PM10 is the only pollutant that frequently recorded concentrations exceeding the MAAQG in the length of the year 2001 to 2010 and the criteria pollutants reported differ significantly between the monsoon seasons. PCA showed that sources contributing to the most significant criteria pollutant (PM10) are meteorological factor influences and industrial emissions.

Temporal analysis of air pollutants in the most affected monsoon region

“…Then, for CO and PM10 , these two pollutants recorded the standard deviation of 0.1385 ppm and 14.6630 µg/m3 respectively. Generally, the result on [11] has a bit lower average values on almost all pollutants compared to the current study although both studies situated in the region that experience the same monsoon season. According to [22], open coastal locations are often subjected to strong, even severe wind strengths.…”

“…Meanwhile, [23] stated that a higher speed of wind could have caused decrease in pollutant concentration in a certain area. Therefore, the result [11] might happen because the study area located exactly on the coast which has a lower pollution concentration strongly affected by the wind speed compared to the location of the current study. Figures 2 (a)-(e) is the cluster analysis using a dendogram based on monthly mean concentration for each pollutant.…”

“…This phenomenon also occurs in Malaysia. A study taken placed at Kuala Terengganu which analyzed hourly data from the Department of Environment (Malaysia) for the criteria pollutants (PM 10, CO, O3, NO2, and SO2) and meteorological factors (temperature, relative humidity, wind velocities) for 10 years found that the PM10, NO2, and SO2 concentrations during southwest monsoon (SWM) are higher [11]. CO also found significantly different based on the temporal variable.…”

“…Kelantan has been chosen as a study area in this study since the past study of air pollution in Kelantan is not focused on the temporal variations. However, there are studies about temporal variations in other states such as the study taken in Kuala Terengganu where analyzed the data of air pollutants and meteorological factors based on temporal variations which are southwest monsoon, northeast monsoon and inter-monsoon by [18]. In addition, meteorological factors in Terengganu are similar in Kelantan since these states are situated on the east coast of Malaysia.…”

Forecasting Particulate Matter Concentration Using Linear and Non-Linear Approaches for Air Quality Decision Support

“…Air quality in a developing country such as Malaysia has decreased gradually because of rapid urbanization, industrialization and population growth [1]. Southeast Asia cities, including Malaysia are notified as surrounded by particulate matter (PM 10 ) in air quality problems [2][3][4][5]. PM 10 or known as coarse particle is defined as the particulate matter that having an aerodynamic diameter of less than (≤) 10 µm [6].…”