Atmospheric Aerosols and Air Quality in the 2022 Dry Season in Huancayo-Perú

Abstract

This work presents results of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and Direct Radiative Force (DRF) at the top of the atmosphere (TOA), obtained during monitoring campaigns carried out at the Huancayo Observatory of the Geophysical Institute of Peru (OH-IGP) in April and August 2022. In these campaigns, a Sun CIMEL photometer was used to measure the microphysical and optical properties of aerosols at wavelengths ranging from 340 to 1020 nm, and a low-cost Purple-air sensor to quantify the concentration of material particulate (PM), in fine and coarse modes. The AOD results indicated values in the range 0.06-0.22. The daily averages of PM2.5 and PM10 did not exceed Peru’s current Environmental Quality Standards (50 μg/m3 and 100 μg/m3). The air quality index (AQI) calculated for PM2.5 and PM10 was classified as good. On some days during the campaigns, the air quality was classified as moderate. These results contribute to a better understanding of the current climatic conditions of the Peruvian Altiplano.