Status of PM10 as an air pollutant and prediction using meteorological indexes in Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

In the present study research air quality analyses for PM10, were conducted in Shiraz, a city in the south of Iran. The measurements were taken from 2011 through 2012 in two different locations to prepare average data in the city. The averages concentrations were calculated for every 24 hours, each month and each season. Results showed that the highest concentration of PM10 occurs generally in the night while the least concentration was found at the afternoon. Monthly concentrations of PM10 showed highest value in August, while least value was found in January. The seasonal concentrations showed the least amounts in autumn while the highest amounts in summer. Relations between the air pollutant and some meteorological parameters were calculated statistically using the daily average data. The wind data (velocity, direction), relative humidity, temperature, sunshine periods, evaporation, dew point and rainfall were considered as independent variables. The relationships between concentration of pollutant and meteorological parameters were expressed by multiple linear regression equations for both annual and seasonal conditions SPSS software. RMSE test showed that among different prediction models, stepwise model is the best option.