The relationship between typhoon features and fine particulate matter: events in Metropolitan Taipei

• Published in: Theoretical and applied climatology 2020, Vol.139 (1-2), p.127-143
• Main Author: Lai, Li-Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air flow; Air pollution; Analysis; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Atmospheric Sciences; Climate science; Climatology; Cyclones; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environmental protection; Hurricanes; Long-range transport; Meteorological data; Original Paper; Outdoor air quality; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Photochemical smog; Pollutants; Protection and preservation; Public health; Sea breezes; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Statistical tests; Storms; Subsidence; Suspended particulate matter; Transport; Tropical climate; Tropical depressions; Typhoons; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Weather; Wind
• ISSN: 0177-798X; 1434-4483
• DOI: 10.1007/s00704-019-02950-5

The fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) events occurring in a basin, where the subsidence of local emissions outside the periphery of a typhoon is coupled with pollutants transported by the horizontal airflow, threaten public health. The hourly concentrations of PM 2.5 in metropolitan Taipei, Taiwan, from 2006 to 2016 were obtained for 17 sites from the Environmental Protection Administration. Hourly meteorological data were obtained for 29 sites from the Central Weather Bureau. The life stages of each of the 60 alerted typhoons studied were divided into seven time periods. The data were analysed using the z statistics and t tests, as well as Duncan’s multi-range test and back-trajectory tracks. The main aims of this study are (1) to determine the relationships between the PM 2.5 concentrations in the Taipei Basin and the life stage, strength and event rate in the position (ERP) of an alerted typhoon and (2) to determine the relationship between the PM 2.5 events and long-range transport during the typhoon period. The results show that in comparison to the PM 2.5 events, conditions such as the strength of weak and tropical depression in the typhoons and the life stages of not in the affected scope of the storm were of greater importance for the occurrence of serious PM 2.5 events. Furthermore, in relation to the PM 2.5 events, the typhoons were further from Taipei when the serious PM 2.5 events occurred. Multiple factors like terrain blocking, sea breeze, poor air dispersion due to subsidence and long-range transport could induce a PM 2.5 event or serious PM 2.5 event.