Dispersion of Air Pollutants in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Zone
The objective of this work is to identify the main factors influencing the dispersion of air pollution in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Zone (ZMG). To this end, we analyzed the behavior of atmospheric pollutants, the speed of the winds and the presence of
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bstract The objective of this work is to identify the main factors influencing the dispersion of air pollution in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Zone (ZMG). To this end, we analyzed the behavior of atmospheric pollutants, the speed of the winds and the presence of thermal inversions (IT) over the past 10 years. The results showed that during the early hours of the day, the dominant factors are the influence of IT and the frequency of calmer winds (winds between 0 and 5 km/h), which do not allow the dispersal of pollutants in the area. Past the noon (12:00 h) the solar radiation increases the temperature of the bottom layer of the IT, reaching the equilibrium temperature that breaking the IT, thus starting the dispersion of pollutants. This process occurs in addition to the increase of the wind speed in the afternoon, generating horizontal dispersion to the outside of the ZMG, possibly affecting the Toluquilla Valley. In conclusion, the dominant factors in the dispersion of air pollutants in the ZMG are thermal inversions and the wind speed.
1 Introduction Different works have reported that weather has a great influence on the accumulation and dispersion of air pollutants from the sources of emissions. The natural environment (geography and topography) and urbanization (urban infrastructure, transport and industry), affect the air quality in large cities where high concentrations of pollutants prevail. These problems become more important because the
H. U. Ramírez-Sánchez (&) M. E. García-Guadalupe Astronomy and Meteorology, Institute—University of Guadalajara, Av. Vallarta 2802 Col. Arcos Vallarta, 44130 Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico e-mail: [email protected]
J. Klapp et al. (eds.), Fluid Dynamics in Physics, Engineering and Environmental Applications, Environmental Science and Engineering, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-27723-8_35, Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
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H. U. Ramírez-Sánchez and M. E. García-Guadalupe
projected growth of the world’s urban population increases both the sources of pollution and the number of exposed persons. Mobile sources are the primary cause of air pollution in large cities (Molina-Molina 2005). Céspedes (2005) reported that the meteorological factors that influence the concentration of pollutants in the air are the transport and dispersion, turbulence and limitations on the vertical dispersion for the thermal inversion effect (IT). In Mexico, the work on environmental degradation dates back to 1980. Mexico City has a high-density of population, vehicles and industry resulting in accelerated technological development; therefore, it is not surprising that the most notorious environmental deterioration in this megacity is the air pollution (MolinaMolina 2005). In this city and in Los Angeles, the mountains trap pollutants long enough so that they suffer chemical mutations. In this case, there must be implemented stringent measures to prevent the accumulation of unacceptable levels of harmful contaminants. The objective of this work is to identify the main factors influenc
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