Vertical Distribution of Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in a Suburban Area of Lin’an, China

Vertical observations of fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) and meteorological factors are of significant importance to clarify the mechanism that produce atmospheric pollution, forecast atmospheric pollution under different meteorological conditions. The objective of this study is to measure PM₂.₅ concentrations and meteorological conditions at 300-1000 m altitude in a suburban area using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with mobile instruments. The study was operated in a 4 * 4 km² space in Lin 'an, China, Yangtze River Delta. The UAV was manipulated repeatedly for four times in one day along the designed route spirally from the ground to 1000 m altitude with a total of 8 layers and a 100m interval between two adjacent layers in five days from 21st August 2014 to 2nd February 2015. Measurements are made up of PM₂.₅, air temperature, relative humidity (RH), dew point temperature and pressure. The study results indicate that the PM₂.₅ concentrations decrease with altitude at 300-1000 m and the variations of PM₂.₅ with altitude in morning nights are much more remarkable than in afternoon nights. Besides, the PM₂.₅ concentration levels in morning nights are generally lower than in afternoon nigh ts. PM₂.₅ concentrations are positive correlated with dew point temperature and pressure, but positive correlated with relative humidity only on pollution days in autumn or winter. The vertical gradient of PM₂.₅ concentrations is small in pollution days compared with in clean day. These findings will provide the key theoretical foundation for urban environmental management and PM₂.₅ forecast.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADC20 Standing Committee on Transportation and Air Quality. Alternate title: Vertical Distribution of Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles In Suburban Area of Lin’an, China
  • Corporate Authors:

    Transportation Research Board

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    Washington, DC  United States  20001
  • Authors:
    • Lu, Si-Jia
    • Wang, Dongsheng
    • Li, Xiao-Bing
    • Wang, Zhanyong
    • Peng, Zhong-Ren
  • Conference:
  • Date: 2016

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 20p
  • Monograph Title: TRB 95th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01588791
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 16-6666
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Jan 29 2016 9:33AM