Author(s)

C. E. Zapata, N. A. Cano, M. Ramírez, C. Rubiano, J. Jiménez

Abstract

The Aburrá Valley is characterized by being a narrow valley inversion problem, where monitored critical pollutants are less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and there are inhalable particulate matter particles smaller than 10 micrometers (PM10). In this study, the values of annual average concentrations for PM10 and PM2.5 are addressed during the period 2007–2013. These concentrations were compared with the annual standard (Resolution 610 of 24 March 2010 issued at that time by the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development (MAVDT)), for PM2.5 equal to 25.0 μg/m³, and for PM10 equal to 50 μg/m³ respectively. Additionally, the influence of the ENSO phenomenon is analyzed in normal and extreme conditions: El Niño and La Niña during the period 2007–2013, regarding the diurnal cycle, annual cycle and the annual cycle of the diurnal cycle for both air pollutants. In order to analyze the variability exerted by the ocean-atmospheric phenomena occurring in the Pacific Ocean on the dispersion of breathable and inhalable particulate matter the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI) is used.

Keywords

inhalable particulate matter (PM2.5), breathable particulate matter PM10, ENSO phenomenon, Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI), diurnal cycle, annual cycle, annual cycle of the diurnal cycle