Mary C Kelley1, Mallory Brown1 and Karin Ardon-Dryer1
Department of Geosciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Particulate matter (PM) are microscopic aerosols suspended in the atmosphere. PM originates from anthropogenic sources including industrial and vehicle emissions as well as natural sources such as dust storms and a volcano erupting. High PM can reduce the visibilities causing motorists and aviation problems. PM2.5 (PM with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm) can penetrate into our lungs causing local damage as well as subsequent systematic damage elsewhere in the body. In extreme cases, this exposure can also cause death.
In this project we examine changes of PM2.5 in Lubbock, Texas from 2001 to 2018. Hourly PM2.5 measurements were taken from the local Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) station. The hourly PM2.5 measurements were analyzed for diurnal, daily, monthly, seasonal and yearly changes. Comparison was made between the PM2.5 concentrations and meteorological parameters (such as temperature, wind direction or speed, visibility and more) measured by the local National Weather Service station located at the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport. The effect of El Nino and La Nina on the PM2.5 concentration was also examined. In our presentation we will present our finding and discuss how those effects may change the PM2.5 concentration in our region.
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