Investigating Meteorological Factors Influencing Pollutant Concentrations and Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) Model Forecasts in the Tehran Metropolis

In recent years, air pollution has become a significant issue for megacities. This study analyzed the air pollution levels in Tehran and the relationship between pollutant concentrations and atmospheric quantities during 2023. The correlation coefficients between wind speed, temperature, mean sea le...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sara Karami, Zahra Ghassabi, Noushin Khoddam, Maral Habibi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/3/264
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In recent years, air pollution has become a significant issue for megacities. This study analyzed the air pollution levels in Tehran and the relationship between pollutant concentrations and atmospheric quantities during 2023. The correlation coefficients between wind speed, temperature, mean sea level pressure (MSLP), and relative humidity (RH) were calculated against the concentrations of NO<sub>2</sub>, NO<sub>x</sub>, PM<sub>10</sub>, and PM<sub>2.5</sub>. Additionally, one case study was conducted for each pollutant. Approximately 72% of haze phenomena in Tehran were recorded in November, December, and January. The monthly pattern of PM<sub>10</sub> concentration indicated higher levels in the southern and western parts of Tehran. For PM<sub>2.5</sub>, in addition to these areas, significant concentrations were also observed in the central and eastern parts. NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations were found to be higher in the northeast and northern areas. An inverse relationship was found between wind speed and temperature with pollutant concentrations. Positive correlations between MSLP and pollutant concentrations suggested that the pollutant levels also increased as air pressure rose. RH showed a significant direct relationship with PM<sub>2.5</sub> and NO<sub>x</sub>. Synoptic analysis revealed that PM<sub>10</sub> case studies often occurred during the warm season, with a thermal low pressure situated over the Iranian plateau. During PM<sub>2.5</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub> pollution events, Tehran was influenced by high pressure, and 10 m wind speeds were weak. Finally, verification of the 24 h forecast of the CAMS model showed that, while the model accurately predicted the spatial distribution of pollutants in most cases, it consistently underestimated the concentration levels.
ISSN:2073-4433