Evaluation of relationship between meteorological parameters and air pollutant concentrations during winter season in Elaz??, Turkey

In recent years, due to the rapid increase in population density, building density and energy consumption, the outdoor air quality has deteriorated in the crowded urban areas of Turkey. Elaz?? city, which is located in the east Anatolia region of Turkey, is also influenced by air pollutants. In the present study, relationship between monitored air pollutant concentrations such as SO₂ and the total suspended particles (TSP) data and meteorological factors such as wind speed, temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation and atmospheric pressure was investigated in months of October, November, December, January, February, and March during the period of 3 years (2003, 2004 and 2005) for Elaz?? city. According to the results of linear and non-linear regression analysis, it was found that there is a moderate and weak level of relation between the air pollutant concentrations and the meteorological factors in Elaz?? city. The correlation between the previous day’s SO₂, TSP concentrations and actual concentrations of these pollutants on that day was investigated and the coefficient of determination R² was found to be 0.64 and 0.54, respectively. The statistical models of SO₂ and TSP including all of meteorological parameters gave R² of 0.20 and 0.12, respectively. Further, in order to develop this model, previous day’s SO₂ and TSP concentrations were added to the equations. The new model for SO₂ and TSP was improved considerably with R²?=?0.74 and 0.61, respectively.