Article
Annual and weekly patterns of ozone and particulate matter in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association
(2014)
Abstract
Air pollution has been an increasing concern within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. In this work the authors present an analysis of daily ozone (O3), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and particulate matter (<10 μm aerodynamic diameter; PM10) concentrations for two years (2010 and 2011) at sites in and around the coastal city of Jeddah, as well as a remote background site for comparison. Monthly and weekly variations, along with their implications and consequences, were also examined. O3 within Jeddah was remarkably low, and exhibited the so-called weekend effect—elevated O3 levels on the weekends, despite reduced emissions of O3 precursors on those days. Weekend O3 increases averaged between 12% and 14% in the city, suggesting that NOx/volatile organic compound (VOC) ratios within cities such as Jeddah may be exceptionally high. Sites upwind or far removed from Jeddah did not display this weekend effect. Based on these results, emission control strategies in and around Jeddah must carefully address NOx/VOC ratios so as to reduce O3 at downwind locations without increasing it within urban locations themselves. PM10 concentrations within Jeddah were elevated compared with North American cites of similar climatology, though comparable to other large cities within the Middle East.
Keywords
- Ozone layer -- Research
Disciplines
Publication Date
2014
DOI
10.1080/10962247.2014.893931
Publisher Statement
Copyright (2014) Taylor & Francis
Citation Information
Porter, W. C., Khalil, M. A. K., Butenhoff, C. L., Almazroui, M., Al-Khalaf, A. K., & Al-Sahafi, M. S. (2014). Annual and weekly patterns of ozone and particulate matter in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 64(7), 817-826.