Variations of Ozone and PM10 Concentrations and Meteorological Conditions according to Airflow Patterns of their High Concentration Episodes on Jeju Island

Abstract

The classification of airflow patterns during high ozone (O3) and PM10 episodes on Jeju Island in recent years (2009-2015), as well as their correlation with meteorological conditions according to classified airflow patterns were investigated in this study. The airflow patterns for O3 and PM10 were classified into four types (Types A-D) and three types (Types E-G), respectively, using the HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model and synoptic weather charts. Type A was the most dominant airflow pattern for O3 episodes, being characterized by the transport of airflows from urban and industrial areas in China with the highest frequency (about 69%, with a mean of 67 ppb). With regard to the PM10 episodes, Type E was the most dominant airflow pattern, and was mostly associated with long distance transport from Asian dust source regions along northwesterly winds, having the highest frequency (about 92%, with a mean of 136 μg/m3). The variations in the concentration of O3 and PM10 during the study period were clarified in correlation with two pollutant and meteorological variables; for example, the high (low) O3 and PM10 concentrations with high (low) air temperature and/or wind speed and vice versa for precipitation. The contribution of long-range transport to the observed PM10 levels in urban sites for different airflow patterns (Types E-F), if estimated in comparison to the data from the Gosan background site, was found to account for approximately 87-93% (on average) of its input. The overall results of the present study suggest that the variations in O3 and PM10 concentrations on Jeju Island are mainly influenced by the transport effect, as well as the contribution of local emissions. emissions.