Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment (한국대기환경학회지)

Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment (한국대기환경학회)
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Relationship between Pollen Concentration and Meteorological Condition in an Urban Area

도시지역 공중화분 농도와 기상조건과의 관계

  • Oh, In-Bo (Environmental Health Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Yangho (Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Kee-Ryong (Department of Biological Sciences, University of Ulsan) ;
  • Lee, Ji Ho (Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
  • 오인보 (울산대학교 의과대학 환경보건센터) ;
  • 김양호 (울산대학교 의과대학 직업환경의학교실) ;
  • 최기룡 (울산대학교 생명과학부) ;
  • 이지호 (울산대학교 의과대학 직업환경의학교실)
  • Received : 2013.07.30
  • Accepted : 2013.10.14
  • Published : 2013.12.31
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Abstract

This study attempted to determine important meteorological parameters related to airborne pollen concentrations in urban areas. Hourly pollen measurement data were prepared from a regular sampling with a volumetric Burkard spore trap at a site in the Ulsan city, during the spring season (March~May) of 2011. Results showed that the daily mean and maximum concentrations for total pollen counts during the spring season were statistically significantly correlated with both air temperature and wind speed; daily mean pollen concentration was the most highly related to daily maximum temperature (r=0.567, p<0.001). It was also identified that pollen concentration has a stronger relationship with wind speed at the rural site than at the urban one, which confirms that strong wind conditions over the pollen sources area can be favorable for pollen dispersal, resulting in increases in airborne pollen concentrations downwind. From the results of an oak-pollen episode analysis, it was found that there was a significant relationship between hourly variation of oak pollen concentrations and dynamic meteorological factors, such as wind and mixing height (representing the boundary layer depth); especially, a strong southwestern wind and elevated mixing height was associated with high nocturnal concentrations of oak pollen. This study suggests that temperature, wind, and mixing height can be important considerations in explaining the pollen concentration variations. Additional examination of complex interactions of multiple meteorological parameters affecting pollen behavior should be carried out in order to better understand and predict the temporal and spatial pollen distribution in urban areas.

Keywords

References

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