PATTERNS OF ANNUAL FLUCTUATION OF DUST CONCENTRATIONS ALONG WITH METEOROLOGICAL PARAMETERS: A CASE STUDY IN QOM PROVINCE, CENTRAL IRAN

Concentration of Particulate Matters were measured for a one-year monitoring period from July 2011 through June 2012 in Qom, a city located in western part of Dasht-e Kavir, central Iran.
Some related meteorological parameters comprising wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, relative humidity (RH), temperature and sunshine hours were evaluated.
PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 maximum values were recorded as 1160.67, 242.92, 90.82 μg/m3, respectively. The maximum number of days with peak concentration of PM was reported from July through November 2012. Obtained results represented that the winds are prevailed from southern and south-eastern sides of Qom with 24.5% and 24% of consequences, respectively. The correlation between PM10 concentration and relative humidity was moderate and indirect (r = - 0.340).
The coordination between governmental administrations of central provinces engaged with dust events is suggested to mitigate the health-related impacts using a long term control program.