STUDYING LONG AND SHORT-TERM AIRBORNE PARTICULATE MATTER OVER THE ARABIAN PENINSULA

Abstract

In recent years, air pollution has been of special importance because of its potential dan-ger to the environment. This study investigates the distribution of long and short-term airborne particulate matter over the Arabian Peninsula using data gathered from AERO-NET Ground-Based Stations, Space-Borne Sensors, and Real-Time Ground Monitoring stations. The study also examines the morphological and chemical characteristics of APM using SEM/EDXS; XRD; XRF; FTIR and ICP instruments. Importantly, the study pre-dicts the future trends of PM using mathematical models. Results from ground monitor-ing stations (AERONET) and satellite (Terra/ MODIS) analysis showed that the increase in particulate matter concentration over the East and Center of the Arabian Peninsula can be attributed to the increase in natural particles; while the increase in the particulate mat-ter over the West and South of the Peninsula can be attributed to the increase in man-made particles. It showed that the trend for particulate matter concentration over the five regions increased with time, although in uneven percentages. The percentages are 58%, 15%, 13%, 8%, and 6% in the Central, Western, Southern, Northern and Eastern regions, respectively. However, the same results also showed that the trend for man-made particu-late matter decreased over time by 29%, 28% and 21% in the Northern, Central and East-ern Regions, respectively. Conversely, it increased significantly in the Western (72%) and Southern (18%) regions. SEM showed that the average size of particles in Jubail city (1.4 - 2.8 µm) is smaller than Ras Tanura (5 - 7 µm). Although, in both cities, the particle shape is irregular and spherical, it is accompanied by many clusters deposited in different spots on the Jubail filters. XRF showed that the APM collected over Jubail Industrial City contains zinc, barium, sulfur, sodium, and potassium in higher concentrations than the APM collected over Ras Tanura.