1. in US East Coast Using SMAT-CE Software
Simulation of PM2.5 Particulate Matter Pollution
in US East Coast Using SMAT-CE Software
Zhaopeng Xu, Diya Peng, Soumil Shah, Jani Pallis, Xingguo Xiong
Department of Electrical Engineering
University of Bridgeport, CT
Abstract
In this poster, we use SMAT-CE software by US EPA (Environment Protection Agency) and TIBCO to simulate the PM2.5 air pollution in US east coast. The data of PM2.5 pollution levels were collected by EPA and available in its website. Through SMAT-CE simulation, we plot the heat map of PM2.5 concentrations of major cities in US east coast in the past years. Based on the data, we tried to find its relation to various weather conditions, wind and other factors. The results will be helpful to further understand the behavior of PM2.5 air pollution and offer methodologies to improve the air quality in the area. k
PM2.5 was blow to left cities. Then we can conclude that the PM 2.5 in Birmingham is mainly from Savannah. So Savannah is the PM2.5 source in this area. The prior response to reduce PM2.5 in Birmingham is to control the PM2.5 at source which is Savannah. If we know the wind direction and strength, we can find the source of it.
B. Draw line charts by using TIBCO
Using PM2.5 data of Fairfield, New Heaven, Hartford and New York in year 2017 from EPA to draw line charts. Q1 represents spring, Q2 represents summer, Q3 represents fall, and Q4 represents winter. Obviously, the PM2.5 is lowest at summer in these four counties. Obviously, there is a common feature for this four cities that PM2.5 gets to the lowest level in summer. And both spring and winter have high PM2.5 concentration. Comparing these four cities vertically, we can see New Heaven has lowest annual average PM 2.5.
Fig.4: AQI in south east coast in March 4
Fig.6: AQI in south east coast in March 5
Fig.5: Wind direction and strength in south east coast
D. Asthma data
In this process, we focus on the relationship between asthma and PM2.5 concentration. I collected asthma data of four states including Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York on website. Among this data set, we select asthma rate in age 5-9 children because they usually don’t have any bad habits which can also cause asthma. So there are only two main reasons causing asthma, one is innate, another is air pollution.
Introduction
Air pollution is becoming a serious global threat to human health and environment. Particulate matter with size of 2.5 micron or less are much more harmful for health. In order to control PM2.5 air pollution, it is important to understand the PM2.5 pollution diffusion mechanism and find out the factors affecting its propagation. US EPA closely monitors air pollution around the country and has accumulated tremendous data. Such data are published in their website for public access. We used SMAT-CE and the air pollution data from EPA to analyze the trends of PM2.5 air pollution in US east coast, and find its correlation with various influence factors such as geographical conditions, season, wind and precipitations.
Fig.2 Quarter average PM2.5 in Fairfield, Hartford, New Heaven and New York in 2017
C. Rainfall data
Next, we compare rainfall data of these four cities in year 2017 to PM2.5 concentration. Precipitation in summer is generally higher than it in spring. That’s the main reason why PM2.5 concentration in spring is higher than summer. But for Hartford, there is also high precipitation in winter. However, the PM 2.5 is still high in winter. It’s because fuel-based heating contributes to increased PM2.5 emission in winter. But the common trend is that there is the highest precipitation in summer. So we can say precipitation is one of the main factors to influence PM2.5.
Asthma rate among children aged 5-9 years(2008)/%
Daily average PM 2.5(2008)
unit
Connecticut
13.5
10.38
ug/m3 LC
New Jersey
9.7
11.62
Massachusetts
12.5
9.74
New York
15.7
10.73
Proposed Method
A. Draw Heat Map by using SMAT-CE
First, we upload PM2.5 concentration data of US East Coast in year 2011 to SMAT-CE. Draw a heat map of this data. As we can see from this map, the PM2.5 concentration along coast is usually lower than inland. And we need to find factors which cause this PM2.5 difference in different area.
Conclusions
1.From the heatmap of PM2.5 at east coast, we can see coast air quality is better than inland.
2. PM2.5 in spring is higher than summer and the main reason is that the rainfall in spring is lower than summer. Precipitation can reduce PM2.5 concentration.
3. Wind direction and strength can influence the diffusion pattern of PM2.5 pollutants.
Fig.3: Precipitation in Bridgeport, New Heaven, New York, Hartford
D. Wind factor
We compared wind strength and direction to PM2.5 concentration in recent days. In the first graph, we can see the PM 2.5 is concentrated between Atlanta and Savannah at March 4. The second graph is wind direction in this area. We can see the wind direction is left at the high PM2.5 concentrated place. So in the third graph, PM2.5 was diluted in high concentrated place and
Reference
[2]Fig.5: URL:
[3]Fig.4,6: URL:
Fig.1: Heat Map of PM2.5 in East Coast