The influence of weather-type and long-range transport on airborne particle concentrations in Edinburgh, UK

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of regional-scale synoptic weather type and geographical source regions of air masses on two-particle concentration metrics (Black Smoke (BS) and PM10) in the city of Edinburgh, UK, between 1981 and 1996. Twenty-seven classifications of Jenkinson Daily Weather Types (JWT) were sub-divided into 9 directional categories and 3 vorticity categories, and the influence of JWT category on BS and PM10 determined. Four-day air mass back-trajectories for 1 July 1995-30 June 1996 were computed and grouped into 8 categories depending on the geographical route followed. Significantly elevated concentrations of BS (median values 2, 5 and 4 μg m−3 greater than median for 1981-1996) and PM10 (median values 3, 5.5 and 8 μg m−3 greater than median for 1992-1996) were observed for anticyclonic, southerly and south-easterly weather types, respectively. These differences were not identified at conventional levels of significance for BS in 1995-1996. This may reflect a shift in more recent times to lower concentrations of predominantly locally emitted BS less affected by regional scale meteorology. Conversely, significant inter-trajectory category differences were observed for PM10 during 1995-1996, with highest concentrations associated with Eastern European trajectories and south-easterly weather type categories (11.4 and 10.7 μg m−3 greater than annual means, respectively). The variation in particle concentration across weather-type was a significant proportion of total median particle concentration, and of a magnitude associated with adverse health outcomes. Thus current PM10 concentrations (and associated health outcomes) in Edinburgh are likely to be significantly influenced by regional-scale meteorology independent of local air quality management areas. Furthermore, changes in long-term trends in distributions of synoptic weather types indicate that future climate change may influence exposure to PM10 and the PM10:BS ratio in Edinburgh. Further definition of the relationships between long-range transport and particle concentration will improve classification of human exposure in epidemiological studies

Climate‐based sensitivity of air quality to climate change scenarios for the southwestern United States

“…Few climate-changerelated studies have been conducted on PM. Buchanan et al (2002) examined the link between long-range transport of PM and meteorological patterns in Scotland, where they found no significant trends and some evidence that particle concentrations may decrease owing to decreased frequency of anticyclonic events.…”

The toxicology of climate change: Environmental contaminants in a warming world

“…For example, Buchanan et al (2002) investigated the influence of regional weather patterns on PM 10 concentrations in Edinburgh, Scotland and demonstrated that PM can move well beyond its point source due to these large area dynamics. As climate change is predicted to affect synoptic-scale weather patterns, regional distribution of air pollutants may be affected.…”

Determination of the Jenkinson and Collison’s weather types for the western Mediterranean basin over the 1948-2009 period. Temporal analysis

“…Lamb's daily types for the British Isles (since 1861) and the corresponding JC types (since 1880) can be found at http:// www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/data/lwt/. Uses and applications of JC in European regions, especially the north of the continent, can be found in Buishand and Brandsma (1997), Trigo and DaCamara (2000), Linderson (2001), Post et al (2002), Fowler and Kilsby (2002), Buchanan et al (2002), Antonsson et al (2008), Demuzere et al (2008), Post and Kärner (2008), etc. In other regions of the planet, the JC method has as yet been little used, although one of the first pilot applications was in a scope outside of the mid-latitudes, specifically in Egypt (Dessouky and Jenkinson, 1977).…”