Title: The role of atmospheric circulation in air pollution distribution in Katowice Region (Southern Poland)

Authors: Mieczyslaw Roman Lesniok, Zbigniew Andrzej Caputa

Addresses: Faculty of Earth Sciences, Department of Climatology, University of Silesia, 60 Bedzinska Street, Sosnowiec 41-200, Poland. ' Faculty of Earth Sciences, Department of Climatology, University of Silesia, 60 Bedzinska Street, Sosnowiec 41-200, Poland

Abstract: The Katowice Region is the most urbanised and industrialised region in Poland. Local meteorological and circulation conditions significantly influence the pollution level. The study has integrated measurement results of temperature and selected air pollution indices (PM10, SO2, NO, NO2, O3, CO) with the calendar of synoptic circulation types by Niedzwiedz. Because the highest values of temperature inversion in the near-ground air layer occur in the south-western (SWa) and southern (Sa) anticyclone circulation as well as in the anticyclone centre (Ca) and anticyclonic ridge (Ka), the allowable limits of atmospheric pollution concentrations are often exceeded in the Katowice Region.

Keywords: atmospheric circulation; air pollution; temperature inversions; PM10; nitric oxide; nitrogen dioxide; ozone; sulphur dioxide; Katowice Region; Poland; air quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2009.026884

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2009 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.62 - 74

Published online: 28 Jun 2009 *

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