Correlation between traffic density and particle size distribution in a street canyon and the dependence on wind direction

Combustion of fossil fuel in gasoline and diesel powered vehicles is a major source of aerosol particles in a city. In a street canyon, the number concentration of particles smaller than 300 nm in diameter, which can be inhaled and cause serious health effects, is dominated by particles ori...

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Main Authors: J. Voigtländer, T. Tuch, W. Birmili, A. Wiedensohler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2006-01-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/6/4275/2006/acp-6-4275-2006.pdf
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spelling doaj-7d24c331598c4e6cb3336ddef1bcfe812020-11-24T20:49:21ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242006-01-0161242754286Correlation between traffic density and particle size distribution in a street canyon and the dependence on wind directionJ. VoigtländerT. TuchT. TuchW. BirmiliA. WiedensohlerCombustion of fossil fuel in gasoline and diesel powered vehicles is a major source of aerosol particles in a city. In a street canyon, the number concentration of particles smaller than 300 nm in diameter, which can be inhaled and cause serious health effects, is dominated by particles originating from this source. In this study we measured both, particle number size distribution and traffic density continuously in a characteristic street canyon in Germany for a time period of 6 months. The street canyon with multistory buildings and 4 traffic lanes is very typical for larger cities. Thus, the measurements also are representative for many other street canyons in Europe. In contrast to previous studies, we measured and analyzed the particle number size distribution with high size resolution using a Twin Differential Mobility Analyzer (TDMPS). The measured size range was from 3 to 800 nm, separated into 40 size channels. Correlation coefficients between particle number concentration for integrated size ranges and traffic counts of 0.5 were determined. Correlations were also calculated for each of the 40 size channels of the DMPS system, respectively. We found a maximum of the correlation coefficients for nucleation mode particles in the size range between 10 and 20 nm in diameter. Furthermore, correlations between traffic and particles in dependence of meteorological data were calculated. Relevant parameters were identified by a multiple regression method. In our experiment only wind parameters have influenced the particle number concentration significantly. High correlation coefficients (up to 0.8) could be observed in the lee side of the street canyon for particles in the range between 10 and 100 nm in diameter. These values are significantly higher than correlation coefficients for other wind directions and other particle sizes. A minimum was found in the luff side of the street. These findings are in good agreement with theory of fluid dynamics in street canyons.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/6/4275/2006/acp-6-4275-2006.pdf
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author J. Voigtländer
T. Tuch
T. Tuch
W. Birmili
A. Wiedensohler
spellingShingle J. Voigtländer
T. Tuch
T. Tuch
W. Birmili
A. Wiedensohler
Correlation between traffic density and particle size distribution in a street canyon and the dependence on wind direction
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
author_facet J. Voigtländer
T. Tuch
T. Tuch
W. Birmili
A. Wiedensohler
author_sort J. Voigtländer
title Correlation between traffic density and particle size distribution in a street canyon and the dependence on wind direction
title_short Correlation between traffic density and particle size distribution in a street canyon and the dependence on wind direction
title_full Correlation between traffic density and particle size distribution in a street canyon and the dependence on wind direction
title_fullStr Correlation between traffic density and particle size distribution in a street canyon and the dependence on wind direction
title_full_unstemmed Correlation between traffic density and particle size distribution in a street canyon and the dependence on wind direction
title_sort correlation between traffic density and particle size distribution in a street canyon and the dependence on wind direction
publisher Copernicus Publications
series Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
issn 1680-7316
1680-7324
publishDate 2006-01-01
description Combustion of fossil fuel in gasoline and diesel powered vehicles is a major source of aerosol particles in a city. In a street canyon, the number concentration of particles smaller than 300 nm in diameter, which can be inhaled and cause serious health effects, is dominated by particles originating from this source. In this study we measured both, particle number size distribution and traffic density continuously in a characteristic street canyon in Germany for a time period of 6 months. The street canyon with multistory buildings and 4 traffic lanes is very typical for larger cities. Thus, the measurements also are representative for many other street canyons in Europe. In contrast to previous studies, we measured and analyzed the particle number size distribution with high size resolution using a Twin Differential Mobility Analyzer (TDMPS). The measured size range was from 3 to 800 nm, separated into 40 size channels. Correlation coefficients between particle number concentration for integrated size ranges and traffic counts of 0.5 were determined. Correlations were also calculated for each of the 40 size channels of the DMPS system, respectively. We found a maximum of the correlation coefficients for nucleation mode particles in the size range between 10 and 20 nm in diameter. Furthermore, correlations between traffic and particles in dependence of meteorological data were calculated. Relevant parameters were identified by a multiple regression method. In our experiment only wind parameters have influenced the particle number concentration significantly. High correlation coefficients (up to 0.8) could be observed in the lee side of the street canyon for particles in the range between 10 and 100 nm in diameter. These values are significantly higher than correlation coefficients for other wind directions and other particle sizes. A minimum was found in the luff side of the street. These findings are in good agreement with theory of fluid dynamics in street canyons.
url http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/6/4275/2006/acp-6-4275-2006.pdf
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