Variability of surface ozone (O3) at three different monitoring stations in Perak, Malaysia

Noor Wahida Md Junus

Abstract

Surface ozone (O3) in Peninsular Malaysia has shown an unusual increase over the last decade. High concentration of O3 is harmful to humans and plants. This research is conducted to study the variation and pattern of daily, weekly and monthly O3 for industrial, urban and suburban area in Perak, Malaysia. Hourly O3 data covering the period from 2013 to 2015 obtained from the Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE) were analysed using statistical methods. In addition, O3 correlation with meteorological factors was also determined. Daily variation shows that there was a significant difference between hourly data (p < 0.05) and recorded high concentration of O3 at noon. Monthly variation of O3 concentrations showed that there was a significant difference for monthly data (p < 0.05) where mostly, high reading was detected during southwest monsoon and dry season. There was no significant difference between O3 concentrations on weekdays and weekends (p > 0.05) for all three stations. This study also shows that variations of meteorological factors such as wind speed, humidity and temperature may influence the concentration of surface O3 (p < 0.05). The backward trajectory analysis shows that the O3 may have been carried from Sumatra, Indonesia to the study area by the effect of wind movement. In conclusion, O3 concentrations are dependent on O3 trigger agents and meteorological factors that may affect its increase or decrease

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