Research on the Correlations of Inhalable Particulate Matter and Atmospheric Variables in Multi-Cities

Abstract

Using hourly continuous online data of PM (inhalable particulate matter) concentrations for three sizes (PM10, PM2.5, PM1), visibility, and conventional atmospheric variables from June 1 2009 to 31 May 2010 in multi-cities of central Liaoning's four representative cities, correlations of PM and atmospheric variables in the local place were precisely researched. The results show that to the multi-cities area, the proportion of PM emission is relatively high in winter and autumn in the year. PM concentrations become the lowest in the afternoon and the highest in the morning, when visibility becomes the highest and the lowest respectively. Variations of PM concentrations are in accordance with the variation of relative humility, in opposition to the variations of visibility, temperature and wind speed. Contrasting to other atmospheric variables, visibility relates to PM concentrations much more closer, while comparing with coarse PM, fine PM concentrations relate to atmospheric variables much more closer. At large, correlations of PM concentrations and atmospheric variables are very significant in the four cities. However, the correlations are more significant in summer, autumn and winter, and more prominent in Anshan and Benxi.