Air quality and characterization of synoptic circulation weather patterns in a South American city from Argentina

The potential cause-effect relationship between synoptic meteorological conditions and levels of criteria air pollutants, including CO, NO2, O3, PM10, PM2.5 and SO2, in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, was assessed for the period of 2018-2019. Daily back-trajectories and global meteorological data fields were employed to characterize the primary transport paths of air masses reaching the study site, and to identify the synoptic meteorological patterns responsible for these atmospheric circulations. Time series of surface-level meteorological parameters and midday mixing layer height were collected to examine the impact of the synoptic meteorological patterns on local meteorology. Furthermore, the NAAPS global aerosol model was utilized to identify days when contributions from long-range transport processes, such as dust and/or biomass burning smoke, impacted air quality. By applying this methodology, it was determined that the air masses coming from the N, NW and W regions significantly contributed to increased mean concentrations of coarse particles in this area through long-range transport events involving dust and smoke. Indeed, the high average levels of PM10 recorded in 2018-2019 (annual mean values of 47 and 52 mu g/m3, respectively) represent the main air quality concern in Bahia Blanca. Moreover, PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 emissions should be reduced in order to meet recommended air quality guidelines. On the other hand, the results from this study suggest that the sources and meteorological processes leading to the increase in the concentrations of CO and SO2 have a local-regional origin, although these air pollutants did not reach high values probably as a consequence of the strong wind speed registered in this region during any synoptic meteorological pattern.