The Incidence of Soot and Surface Boundary Layer Meteorology in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Atmospheric Black Carbon effects the hygroscopicity of cloud condensation nuclei, which in turn, effects atmospheric heating, stability, large scale circulation and overall cloud albedo. The study investigated the concentration level of soot and the surface boundary meteorology in Port Harcourt city. Sampling was done from five major different land use typologies with the aid of aeroset SPM 531, portable multi-gas monitor (Aeroqual 300 series) and Extech model 45160. Findings showed that the level of concentration of black carbon at different land use areas of Port Harcourt City was relatively very high with minimum mean value of 2.33 ± 1.66 μg/m3 and maximum mean value of 4.66 ± 5.43 (μg/m3) in the morning hours. For the evening period, the minimum mean of 1.25 ± 0.62 (μg/M3) and maximum mean of 4.75 ± 3.13 (μg/M3) For the morning study period, there was no significant difference in the level of concentration of soot at the respective land use areas, since p-values were (0.33 and 0.06); and there was significant difference in the air pollutant parameters (NO2 and CO) across the different land use areas, since p-values were (0.00 and 0.00). The meteorological predictors revealed that humidity (Beta=-0.002, p 5%) and wind speed (Beta=0.006, p 5%), temperature (Beta=-0.042, p>5%) and wind speed (Beta=0.006, p>5%). Enactment and implementation of laws against air pollution is strongly advocated.