Climatology and impact on air quality of sea breeze in an urban coastal environment

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The aims of this paper are to investigate the characteristics of the sea breeze that is developing in Volos area, a medium sized coastal city in central Greece, and to study the influence of sea breeze on concentration levels of ozone and PM10, during the period [2001][2002][2003][2004][2005]. The identification of sea breeze days is based on a set of strict, objective criteria, which include the wind direction and its diurnal reversal, the wind direction difference between the surface winds and the winds in the free atmosphere and the thermal contrast between the sea and the land surface. The statistical analysis reveals that sea breeze is developing in 85.6% of days from May until July, with maximum frequency of occurrence 89% in June. Its most frequent onset and cessation time periods are 09 : 00-11 : 00 and 20 : 00-22 : 00 LST respectively and its usual duration is approximately 10 h. The average maximum strength is 2.6 m/s, usually between 14 : 00 and 17 : 00 LST, while the maximum observed value equals 5.9 m/s. Studying the variation of ozone and PM10 levels during the cold and the warm period of the year (October-April and May-September respectively), it is concluded that sea breeze development is associated with an increase of the concentration of both pollutants. This increase is more pronounced during the cold period and is attributed to unfavourable meteorological conditions.

Temperature, comfort and pollution levels during heat waves and the role of sea breeze

“…Its climatology has been studied by Papanastasiou and Melas (2009b), who analysed a 5-year dataset (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005) in order to identify its characteristics. The identification of a sea breeze day is based on the fulfillment of some strict criteria that are described in their study.…”

“…Sea breeze is a thermally driven circulation system that develops in coastal areas throughout the world (Melas et al 2000;Papanastasiou and Melas 2009b;Zhu and Atkinson 2004). An onshore pressure gradient is developed due to the temperature difference between the land and the sea, resulting in the advection of cool sea air over the warm land.…”

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

“…emission sources, prevailing meteorological factors and terrain morphology [12]. The study was conducted in Kuala Terengganu, one of the capital cities on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, which is less than 2 km from the shoreline.…”

Detection of sea‐breeze events around London using a fuzzy‐logic algorithm

“…Yet the incidence and effects of sea breezes in inland cities such as London, UK, are not well documented. Sea breezes can affect air quality (e.g., Papanastasious and Melas, 2009) and meteorological conditions (Grimmond et al, 2004) over coastal cities. Marine intrusions were even found to have implications for urban areas located further inland; for example, Chemel and Sokhi (2012) suggest they might alter urban heat island patterns for London.…”