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| Titel |
The influence from synoptic weather on the variation of air pollution and pollen exposure |
| VerfasserIn |
Maria Grundström, Åslög Dahl, Deliang Chen, Håkan Pleijel |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2014
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 16 (2014) |
| Datensatznummer |
250088148
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 EGU/EGU2014-2228.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Exposure to elevated air pollution levels can make people more susceptible to allergies or
result in more severe allergic reactions for people with an already pronounced sensitivity to
pollen. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between urban air pollution
(nitrogen oxides, ozone and particles) and airborne Betula pollen in Gothenburg, Sweden,
during the pollen seasons for the years 2001-2012. Further, the influence from atmospheric
weather pattern on pollen/pollution related risk, using Lamb Weather Types (LWT), was also
considered. Daily LWTs were obtained by comparing the variation in atmospheric pressure
from a 16 point grid over a given region on earth (scale ~1000km) and essentially describe
the air mass movement for the region. They include two non-directional types, cyclonic (C)
and anticyclonic (A) and eight directional types depending on the wind direction
(N, NE, E... etc.). LWTs with dry and calm meteorological character e.g. limited
precipitation and low to moderate wind speeds (A, NE, E, SE) were associated with
strongly elevated air pollution and pollen levels where Betula was exceptionally
high in LWTs NE and E. The co-variation between Betula pollen and ozone was
strong and significant during situations with LWTs A, NE, E and SE. The most
important conclusion from this study was that LWTs A, NE, E and SE were associated
with high pollen and air pollution levels and can therefore be classified as high risk
weather situations for combined air pollution and pollen exposure. Our study shows
that LWTs have the potential to be developed into an objective tool for integrated
air quality forecasting and a warning system for risk of high exposure situations. |
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