Dispersion of atmospheric coarse particulate matter in the San Luis Potosí, Mexico, urban area

Atmospheric pollution in urban areas of Mexico has become a serious problem. The study of spatio-temporal evolution of concentrations of particulate matter is an important issue. A total of 188 samples were randomly collected at 24-hour running time within the period from May 2003 to April 2004 for...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: LUIS F. PINEDA-MARTÍNEZ, NOEL CARBAJAL, ARTURO CAMPOS-RAMOS, ANTONIO ARAGÓN-PIÑA, AGUSTÍN R. GARCÍA
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:México
Institución:Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Repositorio:Redalyc-UNAM
OAI Identifier:oai:redalyc.org:56529644002
Acceso en línea:https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=56529644002
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ciencias de la Tierra
air quality
dispersion model
Particulate matter
particle characterization
Descripción
Sumario:Atmospheric pollution in urban areas of Mexico has become a serious problem. The study of spatio-temporal evolution of concentrations of particulate matter is an important issue. A total of 188 samples were randomly collected at 24-hour running time within the period from May 2003 to April 2004 for the San Luis Potosí urban area, located in the central-north part of Mexico, using quartz fiber filters. A series of numerical modeling experiments were conducted for the same period of measurements to investigate particulate matter (PM) concentrations in the above-mentioned urban area. Although there is a considerable annual variability in the atmospheric circulation, the analysis of results indicates preferential seasonal circulation patterns: southwesterly winds during winter and southeasterly during summer. High concentration values of particulate matter were closely associated to local characteristics of the atmospheric circulation. A net transport from the industrial zone into the urban area is one of most important outcomes of the investigation.