Dependence of air quality on meteorological parameters in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tanzania Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences
Abstract
The influence of meteorology on air quality in Dar es Salaam was investigated. Precipitation,
temperature, relative humidity and wind speed were measured during wet and dry seasons of 2005
and 2006 period and their relationship with reported mass of particles of aerodynamic diameter
smaller than 10 μm (PM10) for the site was assessed. Results indicate that the highest median
concentrations for the PM10 mass (58 μg/m 3 ) was observed during the 2005 dry season and the
lowest median (40 μg/m 3 ) during the 2006 wet season. It is interpreted that reasons for the higher
levels of the PM10 mass in the dry season are due to temperature inversions, soil dust dispersal and
absence of rain wash-down. The observed PM10 levels are also affected by the variations in
sources strengths and in meteorological conditions such as mixing height, precipitation, relative
humidity, wind speed and direction as supported by air mass trajectories.
Description
Keywords
PM10, Meteorology, Seasons variation, Air Mass Trajectory