FORECASTING PEAK POLLUTANT LEVELS FROM METEOROLOGICAL VARIABLES

The main objective of this paper is to present analytical models relat ing maximum pollutant concentrations in urban areas with meteorologica l and other variables. The analysis is based on measurements from Grea ter Athens Area and is restricted in only one pollutant of special int erest, namely NO2. The meteorological variables, used in analytical mo deling for forecasting pollution concentrations, cover the most import ant atmospheric processes favoring pollution episodes. The selection o f the variables was based both on extensive correlation analysis and o n the existing knowledge from the scientific literature. The evaluatio n of the developed forecasting models showed that their degree of succ ess is promising. The final model equations derived are simple and the y can be used easily for operational forecasts from the air quality ma nagement authorities.