Title: Applying hourly measurements of meteorological data and aerosol soluble ions in Taipei Basin, Taiwan

Authors: Shih-Yu Chang, Charles C-K. Chou, Wei-Nai Chen, Guor-Cheng Fang

Addresses: Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Central University, Jhongli, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan. ' Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan. ' Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan. ' Air Toxic and Environmental Analysis Laboratory, Hungkuang University, Sha-Lu, Taichung 433, Taiwan

Abstract: This study applies observational data composed of hourly weather and aerosol to discuss the aerosol characteristics within different weather systems. Based on cluster analysis, spring weather in Taipei Basin 2004 was characterised as five weather systems: humid/low south wind speed, dry cold/high east wind speed, humid cold/east wind, dry cold/northeaster, and northwestern convection wind. Under the humid/low south wind speed and northwestern convection wind systems, there are predominant influences of local vehicle/motor pollutant emissions and secondary pollution on the air quality. Asian dust storms were usually occurred under the weather of dry cold/high east wind speed. The regional air quality is more acceptable during the period of prevalent humid cold/east wind and dry cold/northeaster.

Keywords: hourly measurement; air quality; aerosol composition; meteorological data; aerosol soluble ions; Taiwan; cluster analysis; air pollution; vehicle emissions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.024471

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.37 No.1, pp.55 - 69

Published online: 06 Apr 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article