A climatology of photochemical smog episodes in Sydney Australia

Abstract

An objective synoptic climatology of photochemical smog episodes in Sydney, Australia, are presented. This climatology was produced using multivariate statistical techniques including principle component analysis and cluster analysis in order to assign days into meteorologically homogeneous synoptic categories. The meteorological inputs to these statistical inputs include both surface and upper air observations for warm months - October to March, over a ten year period, 1992-2001. Days in which Sydney's air quality may have been affected by bushfires were removed from analyses. The results from the research are expected to be useful from the forecast point of view for future sources in Sydney and surrounding areas.