An Exploratory Analysis of the Relationship between Teleconnections and Selected Pollution Parameters

• Main Author: Hardin, Steven
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Atmospheric Circulation—North America; Teleconnections (Climatology); Climatology; Air > Pollution > North America; Arctic; Brigham; North Atlantic; North Atlantic oscillation
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10484/1849

The relationship between atmospheric circulation patterns, as represented by teleconnection indices, and selected air pollutants was investigated. Correlations were run for levels of three air pollutants: particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10), ozone (O3) and sulfur dioxide (SO2); and three atmospheric teleconnection indices: the Multivariate El Niño-Southern Oscillation Index (MEI), the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Pollutant levels were observed at stations in or near 15 North American cities between 1970 and 2004. Significant correlations as strong as .386 were found for selected individual cities and counties when dates were restricted to the months with the highest pollution levels. Correlation strength generally declined as coverage areas and date ranges were expanded. Still, statistically significant, albeit weak, correlations were found in many cases. Steven Ray Hardin Bierly, Gregory Gatrell, Jay Jensen, Ryan (Brigham Young University) Master of Arts Department of Earth and Environmental Science Cunningham Memorial library, Terre Haute, Indiana State University 20110920-019 Masters Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages: contains 139p.: ill. Includes abstract and appendix.