Influence of Solar Radiation, Temperature and Relative Humidity on Seasonal Variability of Ambient Air Quality at Kannur- A Tropical Site in India

Abstract

This study analyses the influence of solar radiation, temperature and relative humidity on tropospheric ozone concentration at Kannur, a tropical site in India, from November 2009 to December 2011 using regression analysis. The paper presents the observations of continuous measurements of surface ozone and various meteorological parameters over the site. It has been noticed that the monthly mean temperature and relative humidity were gradually increasing from 2009 to 2011. The increase in solar radiation and temperature is favorable for the photochemical generation of ozone. Ozone shown a positive correlation with both solar radiation and temperature, and negative correlation with relative humidity. The effect of these parameters on ozone concentration is critically analyzed during winter, summer, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Seasonally, ozone exhibits a good positive correlation with solar radiation and temperature, except in winter season and negatively correlated with relative humidity. The study also examines the diurnal effect of these parameters at two locations of different characteristics: at Kannur University Campus (KUC) at a rural location in Mangattuparamba, and at Kannur Town (KT), an urban location.