Air pollution is defined as an atmospheric condition in which substances (air pollutants) are present at concentrations higher than their normal ambient (clean atmosphere) levels to produce measurable adverse effects on humans, animals, vegetation, or materials (Seinfeld, 1986). Polluting substances can be noxious or benign, and can be released by natural and anthropogenic (human-made) sources. According to the World Health Organization an estimated 3 million people die each year because of exposure to air pollution (WHO, 2000). Air pollution climatology is concerned with the study of atmospheric phenomena and conditions that lead to occurrence of large concentrations of air pollutants and with their effects on the environment.
Air pollutants are typically classified into three categories: suspended particulate matter (SPM), gaseous pollutants (gases and vapors) and odors. SPM in the air includes PM10 (particulate matter with median diameter less than 10 µm), PM2.5(particulate matter...
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Cross-references
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Winds and Wind System
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Zawar-Reza, P., Spronken-Smith, R. (2005). Air Pollution Climatology. In: Oliver, J.E. (eds) Encyclopedia of World Climatology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht . https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3266-8_7
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