Title: Novel method for producing uncertainty-weighted averages from a time series of ambient air measurements

Authors: Richard J.C. Brown

Addresses: Analytical Science Division, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW, UK

Abstract: A novel method for producing uncertainty-weighted averages from time series of ambient air measurements is presented. This method uses robust regression to establish a relationship between the measured mass concentration values and their uncertainties, and then uses the residuals of individual points from this relationship to calculate a weighting parameter. This parameter can then be used to produce an uncertainty-weighted mean for the group of measurement results used to establish the relationship between the measured values and their uncertainties, or a subset of these, as required. Examples are presented of the method|s application to real and synthetic data sets.

Keywords: ambient air; uncertainty weighting averages; time series; robust methods; pollution; metals; air quality networks; air pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2010.033241

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2010 Vol.41 No.3/4, pp.355 - 368

Received: 13 Mar 2009
Accepted: 11 Dec 2009
Published online: 14 May 2010 *

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