A Comprehensive Overview of PM10 Levels in İstanbul: Annual and Seasonal Spatio-Temporal Variations and the Long-Distance Transport

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive overview of the particulate matter with diameters equal or smaller than 10 µm (PM10)levels in the megacity İstanbul. PM10 concentrations of ten ambient air quality monitoring stations in İstanbul were studiedfor the period of 2007-2016. The study focuses on: (i) similarities and differences among PM10 monitoring areas, (ii) spatialand temporal variations of PM10, (iii) long-distance PM10 transport for four selected cases. PM10 concentrations showsignificant variations across the megacity, with high PM10 levels at heavy traffic points and industrial zones. Results indicatethat the number of exceedances allowed by the EU standards is violated daily and annually at all monitoring sites whichindicate serious air quality problem in İstanbul. Monthly mean PM10 analysis indicated the most polluted month beingNovember in eight stations, and December is the second most polluted month. The seasonal variation is characterized by highconcentrations in the winter, and low concentrations in the summer. Analyses of high PM10 episodic events shed light onpossible long-distance emission sources and key atmospheric flow patterns which transport PM10 from the Atlantic, Europe,the Balkans, the Black Sea, North Africa-the Saharan Desert and the Eastern Mediterranean.