TITLE:
Impact of Remote and Local Sources on Particulate Matter in Urban Environment
AUTHORS:
Hesham A. Al-Jeelani
KEYWORDS:
HYSPLIT Model, Meteorological Factors, Particulate Matter, Statistical Analysis, Urban Pollution
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.7 No.5,
April
19,
2016
ABSTRACT:
In this
paper, the impact of natural and anthropogenic sources on particulate matter
with diameter less than 10 μm (PM10) was investigated in Jeddah urban area,
Saudi Arabia to identify and quantify the major particle pollution source
classes. Hourly data of PM10 and other gaseous pollutants (NOx, CO, SO2 and O3)
and meteorological factors (temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric
pressure, wind speed and wind direction) were collected at two air quality
monitoring sites for the period of March 2008 to February 2009. The air mass
origin was determined using 5-day backward trajectories arriving to Jeddah by
using HYSPLIT model. Results show that the PM10 Daily Limit Value was exceeded.
The most frequent air masses entering Jeddah and thereby influencing PM10 concentrations come from the East, specifically the SE and NE directions, 84%
of the trajectories were originated over the Arabian Peninsula including Saudi
Arabia mainland and the Arabian Gulf. The Mediterranean Sea and southern Europe
were the origin source of 8% of the air mass trajectories, another 8% were
originated from North Africa and Sahara Desert. The majority of PM10 episodes
were attributed to the intrusion of dust to Jeddah urban air.