Impact Of Meteorological Parameters On The Daily Variability Of The Ground-Level PM_2.5 Concentrations According To Measurements In The Middle Urals

Abstract

The results of a comparison of the PM2.5 aerosol concentration daily variability for the summer and winter seasons at the urban and background monitoring sites in the Middle Urals for 2016–2019 are presented. The cluster analysis method revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups corresponding to higher and lower concentrations of fine aerosol during the day. Studies of the daily variation of the PM2.5 particle concentration in the Middle Urals indicate the leading role of meteorological characteristics (in particular, air temperature, pressure and wind speed) in changing the level of aerosol suspension in the air surface layer. Distinctive typical average daily concentrations of PM2.5 for the Middle Urals region, corresponding to the cluster of lower values, are observed in the summer and are on average ~ 5.2 µg/m3 for the urban area and ~ 3.4 μg/m3 for the background site. In winter, these parameters are 12.8 μg/m3 for urban conditions and 10.5 μg/m3 for background site. The higher content of PM2.5 particles, corresponding to the cluster of higher values, are identified in winter and are on average ~32.2 µg/m3 in urban conditions and ~ 30.3 µg/m3 in the background area. In summer, these parameters are 13.6 μg/m3 for urban site and 9.6 μg/m3 for background area. Simultaneous analysis of the fine aerosol concentrations and the meteorological parameters in the surface atmospheric layer allowed to define of weather conditions, at which the occurrence of higher PM2.5 values is possible.