Article: Mesoscale controls on particulate matter pollution for a mega city in a semi-arid mountainous environment: Tehran, Iran Journal: International Journal of Environment and Pollution (IJEP) 2010 Vol.41 No.1/2 pp.166 - 183 Abstract: Tehran, the mega-city capital of Iran, suffers from high concentrations of PM10 throughout the year. Emissions from transport combined with mesoscale atmospheric features related to the mountainous terrain lead to a distinctive diurnal pattern in concentrations. Air quality data from monitoring stations show that the highest concentrations of PM10 are in the morning and evening periods, associated with peak traffic volumes and transition in local meteorology from a stable nocturnal down-slope flow to a daytime upslope regime. There is a clear north-south gradient in PM10 associated with the transport by down-slope winds. A year-long simulation with The Air Pollution Model (TAPM) confirms the mesoscale meteorological regime over Tehran. Simulation results indicate that the peaks in traffic flow and the transition between meteorological regimes contribute to daily PM10 peaks, with the transition playing a relatively minor role. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Mesoscale controls on particulate matter pollution for a mega city in a semi-arid mountainous environment: Tehran, Iran

Authors: Peyman Zawar-Reza, Tim Appelhans, Maryam Gharaylou, AliAkbar Shamsipour

Addresses: Centre for Atmospheric Research, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand; Institute of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. ' Centre for Atmospheric Research, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. ' Centre for Atmospheric Research, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand; Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. ' Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: Tehran, the mega-city capital of Iran, suffers from high concentrations of PM₁₀ throughout the year. Emissions from transport combined with mesoscale atmospheric features related to the mountainous terrain lead to a distinctive diurnal pattern in concentrations. Air quality data from monitoring stations show that the highest concentrations of PM₁₀ are in the morning and evening periods, associated with peak traffic volumes and transition in local meteorology from a stable nocturnal down-slope flow to a daytime upslope regime. There is a clear north-south gradient in PM₁₀ associated with the transport by down-slope winds. A year-long simulation with The Air Pollution Model (TAPM) confirms the mesoscale meteorological regime over Tehran. Simulation results indicate that the peaks in traffic flow and the transition between meteorological regimes contribute to daily PM₁₀ peaks, with the transition playing a relatively minor role.

Keywords: PM10; Tehran; Iran; air quality; air pollution; particulate matter; TAPM; mesoscale; modelling; transition; down-slope; up-slope; semi-arid mountainous environments; vehicle emissions; traffic flow.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2010.032252

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2010 Vol.41 No.1/2, pp.166 - 183

Published online: 17 Mar 2010 *

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Title: Mesoscale controls on particulate matter pollution for a mega city in a semi-arid mountainous environment: Tehran, Iran

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