The dynamical impact of Rossby wave breaking upon UK PM10 concentration

Coarse particulate matter (PM 10 ) has long been understood to be hazardous to human health, with mortality rates increasing as a result of raised ground level concentrations. We explore the influence of synoptic-scale meteorology on daily mean observed PM 10 concentration ([PM 10 ]) using Rossby wa...

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Published in:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Main Authors: Webber, Christopher P., Dacre, Helen F., Collins, William J., Masato, Giacomo
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-867-2017
https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/867/2017/
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spelling ftcopernicus:oai:publications.copernicus.org:acp53553 2023-05-15T17:41:35+02:00 The dynamical impact of Rossby wave breaking upon UK PM10 concentration Webber, Christopher P. Dacre, Helen F. Collins, William J. Masato, Giacomo 2018-09-12 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-867-2017 https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/867/2017/ eng eng doi:10.5194/acp-17-867-2017 https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/867/2017/ eISSN: 1680-7324 Text 2018 ftcopernicus https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-867-2017 2019-12-24T09:51:43Z Coarse particulate matter (PM 10 ) has long been understood to be hazardous to human health, with mortality rates increasing as a result of raised ground level concentrations. We explore the influence of synoptic-scale meteorology on daily mean observed PM 10 concentration ([PM 10 ]) using Rossby wave breaking (RWB). Meteorological reanalysis data for the winter months (DJF) between January 1999 and December 2008 and observed PM 10 data for three urban background UK (Midland) sites were analysed. Three RWB diagnostics were used to identify RWB that had significant influence on UK Midland PM 10 . RWB events were classified according to whether the RWB was cyclonic or anticyclonic in its direction of breaking and whether the RWB event was influenced more by poleward or equatorial air masses. We find that there is a strong link between RWB events and UK [PM 10 ]. Significant increases ( p < 0.01) in UK [PM 10 ] were seen 1 day following RWB occurring in spatially constrained northeast Atlantic–European regions. Analysis into episodic PM 10 exceedance events shows increased probability of [PM 10 ] exceedance associated with all RWB subsets. The greatest probability of exceeding the UK [PM 10 ] threshold was associated with cyclonic RWB preceded by anticyclonic RWB forming an Ω block synoptic pattern. This mechanism suggests an easterly advection of European PM 10 followed by prolonged stagnant conditions within the UK and led to an almost threefold increase in the probability of the UK Midlands exceeding a hazardous [PM 10 ] threshold (0.383), when compared to days where no RWB was detected (0.129). Text Northeast Atlantic Copernicus Publications: E-Journals Midland ENVELOPE(8.224,8.224,63.072,63.072) Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 17 2 867 881
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collection Copernicus Publications: E-Journals
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language English
description Coarse particulate matter (PM 10 ) has long been understood to be hazardous to human health, with mortality rates increasing as a result of raised ground level concentrations. We explore the influence of synoptic-scale meteorology on daily mean observed PM 10 concentration ([PM 10 ]) using Rossby wave breaking (RWB). Meteorological reanalysis data for the winter months (DJF) between January 1999 and December 2008 and observed PM 10 data for three urban background UK (Midland) sites were analysed. Three RWB diagnostics were used to identify RWB that had significant influence on UK Midland PM 10 . RWB events were classified according to whether the RWB was cyclonic or anticyclonic in its direction of breaking and whether the RWB event was influenced more by poleward or equatorial air masses. We find that there is a strong link between RWB events and UK [PM 10 ]. Significant increases ( p < 0.01) in UK [PM 10 ] were seen 1 day following RWB occurring in spatially constrained northeast Atlantic–European regions. Analysis into episodic PM 10 exceedance events shows increased probability of [PM 10 ] exceedance associated with all RWB subsets. The greatest probability of exceeding the UK [PM 10 ] threshold was associated with cyclonic RWB preceded by anticyclonic RWB forming an Ω block synoptic pattern. This mechanism suggests an easterly advection of European PM 10 followed by prolonged stagnant conditions within the UK and led to an almost threefold increase in the probability of the UK Midlands exceeding a hazardous [PM 10 ] threshold (0.383), when compared to days where no RWB was detected (0.129).
format Text
author Webber, Christopher P.
Dacre, Helen F.
Collins, William J.
Masato, Giacomo
spellingShingle Webber, Christopher P.
Dacre, Helen F.
Collins, William J.
Masato, Giacomo
The dynamical impact of Rossby wave breaking upon UK PM10 concentration
author_facet Webber, Christopher P.
Dacre, Helen F.
Collins, William J.
Masato, Giacomo
author_sort Webber, Christopher P.
title The dynamical impact of Rossby wave breaking upon UK PM10 concentration
title_short The dynamical impact of Rossby wave breaking upon UK PM10 concentration
title_full The dynamical impact of Rossby wave breaking upon UK PM10 concentration
title_fullStr The dynamical impact of Rossby wave breaking upon UK PM10 concentration
title_full_unstemmed The dynamical impact of Rossby wave breaking upon UK PM10 concentration
title_sort dynamical impact of rossby wave breaking upon uk pm10 concentration
publishDate 2018
url https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-867-2017
https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/867/2017/
long_lat ENVELOPE(8.224,8.224,63.072,63.072)
geographic Midland
geographic_facet Midland
genre Northeast Atlantic
genre_facet Northeast Atlantic
op_source eISSN: 1680-7324
op_relation doi:10.5194/acp-17-867-2017
https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/867/2017/
op_doi https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-867-2017
container_title Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
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