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Spatial and temporal variations in the trace elemental data over the northeastern United States
Georgios A Athanassiadis1, S T Rao
1Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University at Albany-State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA. gatha@asrc.cestm.albany.edu
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|April 2, 2003
Summary
This study analyzed trace elements in fine particles from 1988-1998. Spatial correlations helped predict pollutant concentrations and identify common industrial source regions for urban pollutants.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Atmospheric fine particles contain various trace elements impacting air quality and health.
- Understanding spatial and temporal variations of these elements is crucial for pollution source identification.
- Previous studies often focused on limited spatial scales or time periods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze spatial and temporal variations of trace elemental concentrations in atmospheric fine particles.
- To investigate the influence of synoptic-scale systems on pollutant transport and accumulation.
- To identify common source regions for industrial and urban pollutants in the northeastern United States.
Main Methods:
- Time series analysis of 14 trace elemental concentrations in fine particles (1988-1998).
- Separation of short-term, weather-induced fluctuations from long-term trends.
- Calculation of spatial short-term correlation coefficients and species correlation matrices.
Main Results:
- Spatial correlations for Al, Br, Fe, Se, and Zn predicted concentrations up to 350 km.
- As, Br, Se, and Zn showed high correlations in New York State.
- Fe, Mn, and V also exhibited strong correlations, indicating common industrial/urban sources.
Conclusions:
- Synoptic-scale systems significantly influence pollutant transport and accumulation.
- Spatial correlation analysis is effective for predicting pollutant concentrations and identifying source regions.
- Trace element correlations suggest shared industrial and urban origins for pollutants impacting New York.