Relationships Between Sulphur Dioxide Pollution and Meteorological Factors in Montreal

R. Cleroux
R. Roy
A. Robert


DOI: 10.2190/BK2M-F8VD-1NHW-DDHP

Abstract

In this paper the effects of some meteorological variables on the SO2 pollution level is determined for the Montreal region. We have considered the SO2 concentrations measured at six sampling stations in the region of Montreal during the year 1975 together with some meteorological variables measured at one site for the same year. A descriptive analysis of these data indicates which of the available meteorological variables are most related to the SO2 level: wind speed, wind direction and temperature, mainly in winter. Some winds have a cleaning effect whereas others favor pollution. Increasing temperature results in a decreasing SO2 level in the urban area. Then some regression models are built for each station and a more detailed analysis is made of the meteorological variables effects on the SO2 level. These effects can be evaluated locally at each station. Finally a principal component analysis of the stations is made in order to evaluate the same effects globally in the region of Montreal.

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