Study and analysis of the concentrations of tropospheric ozone in the city of Medellin and the Aburra Valley and their relationship with atmospheric phenomena

Abstract

In this study, data from 9 sampling stations distributed along the Valley of Aburrá region was analyzed, as reported by the regional air quality monitoring network and the CALAIRE laboratory, between 2014 and 2015. Variations in ozone hourly concentrations are presented, including those between sampling stations, showing the average and maximum values, grouped by hour of day and by day of the week. The total set of data and the peak-hour’s behavior were also analyzed. Correlations were established with meteorological phenomena (sunshine, rainfall and cloud cover). Out of more than 100, 000 hourly data values, only a 1.29% exceeds the quality standard of 61 ppb. From this point of view, the situation should not be considered as a serious one from the point of view of public health, although it should be monitored and studied in relationship to climate and vehicular sources. Quality Air indexes were also determined. Based in a comparative analysis with 25 cities in the world, it was also found that the average annual concentration of ozone in Medellin is inferior to many other of the cities studied.