Exploration of a practical approach to providing RH corrections to low cost sensor networks
Abstract Low-cost PM2.5 sensors have been deployed extensively for high spatio-temporal resolution air quality monitoring. However, environmental factors, especially relative humidity (RH), cause discrepancies for low-cost sensors when compared with regulatory-grade instruments. Developing methods o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | npj Climate and Atmospheric Science |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01115-8 |
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| author | Savinda Arambawatta Lekamge Henry P. Oswin |
| author_facet | Savinda Arambawatta Lekamge Henry P. Oswin |
| author_sort | Savinda Arambawatta Lekamge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Low-cost PM2.5 sensors have been deployed extensively for high spatio-temporal resolution air quality monitoring. However, environmental factors, especially relative humidity (RH), cause discrepancies for low-cost sensors when compared with regulatory-grade instruments. Developing methods of correcting or accounting for this RH discrepancy is therefore key to attaining data from low-cost air quality sensors, which can be used to monitor compliance with global air quality guidelines. Here, we developed a simple aerosol dryer and placed a pair of Plantower PMS7003 sensors before and after it, continuously monitoring the impact of drying on the reported particle mass concentrations. During the monitoring period, drying reduced the reported mass concentration for Brisbane’s PM2.5 by 25–40%. This measured drying effect was then used to calculate a real-time RH correction factor, enabling adjustment of particle mass concentrations reported by a sensor network, accounting for fluctuations in RH and the contribution of hygroscopic sources to ambient PM2.5. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-22c9ffcb43ed45f2a71a778971468a0f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2397-3722 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Climate and Atmospheric Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-22c9ffcb43ed45f2a71a778971468a0f2025-08-20T03:47:24ZengNature Portfolionpj Climate and Atmospheric Science2397-37222025-06-018111110.1038/s41612-025-01115-8Exploration of a practical approach to providing RH corrections to low cost sensor networksSavinda Arambawatta Lekamge0Henry P. Oswin1International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health (ILAQH), WHO Collaborating Centre for Air Quality and Health, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Queensland University of TechnologyInternational Laboratory for Air Quality and Health (ILAQH), WHO Collaborating Centre for Air Quality and Health, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Queensland University of TechnologyAbstract Low-cost PM2.5 sensors have been deployed extensively for high spatio-temporal resolution air quality monitoring. However, environmental factors, especially relative humidity (RH), cause discrepancies for low-cost sensors when compared with regulatory-grade instruments. Developing methods of correcting or accounting for this RH discrepancy is therefore key to attaining data from low-cost air quality sensors, which can be used to monitor compliance with global air quality guidelines. Here, we developed a simple aerosol dryer and placed a pair of Plantower PMS7003 sensors before and after it, continuously monitoring the impact of drying on the reported particle mass concentrations. During the monitoring period, drying reduced the reported mass concentration for Brisbane’s PM2.5 by 25–40%. This measured drying effect was then used to calculate a real-time RH correction factor, enabling adjustment of particle mass concentrations reported by a sensor network, accounting for fluctuations in RH and the contribution of hygroscopic sources to ambient PM2.5.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01115-8 |
| spellingShingle | Savinda Arambawatta Lekamge Henry P. Oswin Exploration of a practical approach to providing RH corrections to low cost sensor networks npj Climate and Atmospheric Science |
| title | Exploration of a practical approach to providing RH corrections to low cost sensor networks |
| title_full | Exploration of a practical approach to providing RH corrections to low cost sensor networks |
| title_fullStr | Exploration of a practical approach to providing RH corrections to low cost sensor networks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploration of a practical approach to providing RH corrections to low cost sensor networks |
| title_short | Exploration of a practical approach to providing RH corrections to low cost sensor networks |
| title_sort | exploration of a practical approach to providing rh corrections to low cost sensor networks |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01115-8 |
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