ANÁLISE DAS CONDIÇÕES METEOROLÓGICAS DURANTE EPISÓDIOS CRÍTICOS DE POLUIÇÃO ATMOSFÉRICA NO MUNICÍPIO DE PORTO ALEGRE/RS

Abstract

Air pollution is a serious and growing problem. The main urban centers are the ones who suffer most from the consequences of poor air quality and its effects on human health, ecosystems and materials. UFCSPA recent research indicates that air of Porto Alegre contains, on average, twice as many pollutants recommended by international standards. The inhalable particulate material (MP10), a pollutant that has quietly damaging the health of the people borned in Rio Grande do Sul, starts with the burnable fuel, cars and trucks. Therefore, there was an analysis of the weather conditions during the critical episodes of air pollution in Porto Alegre, for the MP10 air pollutant. The statistical analysis was made from the variable grouping, cluster analysis. Data from air quality were provided by Fundação Estadual de Proteção Ambiental Henrique Luiz Roessler (FEPAM) and Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET). Daily concentrations were compared in the period 2002 to 2006 at air pollution control station located opposite the bus station in Porto Alegre / RS at the levels set by the standard of quality of the air current in Brazil (Resolução CONAMA no 03, de 28/06/1990). It was observed that the climate variables which influence the concentrations of MP10 in the study area are: a wind speed, air temperature and the wind direction north-east. The highest MP10 concentrations occurred on hot and not breezy days. As seasonality, it was in the winter time, almost entirely, which occurred critical episodes, with some cases in the fall and only one in the summer.