Atmospheric particulate measurement and modeling at UP Diliman using an optical particle counter and a mesoscale chemical transport model

Abstract

This study is an initial assessment towards an operational chemical weather forecast system for the Philippines. Measurement of hourly ambient particulate matter count at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus area was done for the month of March 2014 using a low-cost optical particle counter (OPC). Both Particulate Matter (PM)2.5 and PM10 show strong diurnal variation which can be attributed to variations in some meteorological parameters such as wind velocity and convective processes. Data also showed significant reduction in PM10 count during days with precipitation. Lack of ground emission inventory data inhibits the chemical transport model used in this study to accurately simulate PM transport and dispersion.