A Tool for Public PM 2.5 -Concentration Advisory Based on Mobile Measurements

Abstract

A tool was developed that interpolates mobile measurements of PM2.5-concentrations into unmonitored areas of the Fairbanks nonattainment area for public air-quality advisory. The tool uses simulations with the Alaska adapted version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and the Community Modeling and Analysis Quality (CMAQ) modeling system as a database. The tool uses the GPS-data of the vehicle's route, and the database to determine linear regression equations for the relationships between the PM2.5-concentrations at the locations on the route and those outside the route. Once the interpolation equations are determined, the tool uses the mobile measurements as input into these equations that interpolate the measurements into the unmonitored neighborhoods. An episode of winter 2009/10 served as database for the tool's interpolation algorithm. An independent episode of winter 2010/11 served to demonstrate and evaluate the performance of the tool. The evaluation showed that the tool well reproduced the spatial distribution of the observed as well as simulated concentrations. It is demonstrated that the tool does not require a database that contains data of the episode for which the interpolation is to be made. Potential challenges in applying this tools and its transferability are discussed critically.