Application of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) Method to Assess the Impact of Meteorological Elements on Concentrations of Particulate Matter (PM 10 ): A Case Study of the Mountain Valley (the Sącz Basin, Poland)

Zbigniew Zuśka, Joanna Kopcińska, Ewa Dacewicz, Barbara Skowera, Jakub Wojkowski and Agnieszka Ziernicka–Wojtaszek
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Zbigniew Zuśka: Department of Ecology, Climatology and Air Protection, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, Hugo Kołłątaj University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Joanna Kopcińska: Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, Hugo Kołłątaj University of Agriculture in Krakow, ul. Balicka 253c, 30-198 Kraków, Poland
Ewa Dacewicz: Department of Sanitary Engineering and Water Management, Hugo Kołłątaj University of Agriculture in Krakow, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Barbara Skowera: Department of Ecology, Climatology and Air Protection, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, Hugo Kołłątaj University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Jakub Wojkowski: Department of Ecology, Climatology and Air Protection, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, Hugo Kołłątaj University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Agnieszka Ziernicka–Wojtaszek: Department of Ecology, Climatology and Air Protection, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, Hugo Kołłątaj University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 23, 1-12

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine, by use PCA analysis, the impact of meteorological elements on the PM 10 concentration on the example of the mountain valley. Daily values of selected meteorological elements, measured during a ten-year period in the spring, summer, autumn and winter, obtained from the meteorological station in Nowy Sącz, were adopted as variables explaining PM 10 concentration. The level of PM 10 was significantly affected by the maximum, minimum and average temperature in autumn, winter and spring. In summer the average and maximum temperature was significant. In winter, the first principle component mainly consisted of the combination of the average and maximum wind speed. The second principal component in spring, summer and autumn was the combination of the wind speed (average and maximum), but in winter humidity and atmospheric pressure seemed to be significant. The third principal component, in terms of strength of impact, was humidity in spring, the combination of humidity and minimum temperature in summer, and precipitation in autumn. In winter, the highest PM 10 concentrations were observed during the non-directional, anticyclonic wedge conditions. Three principal components were distinguished in this situation: temperature (average, maximum and minimum); the combination of humidity and wind speed and precipitation.

Keywords: meteorological elements; PM 10 concentrations; principal component analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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