STATUS AND PREDICTION OF NO^sub 2^ AS AN AIR POLLUTANT IN ISFAHAN, IRAN

In the present study, air quality analyses for Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were conducted in Isfahan, Iran. The measurements were taken in three different locations to prepare average data in the city. The averages concentrations were calculated for every 24 hours, each month and each season. Results showed that the highest concentration of Nitrogen dioxide occurs generally in morning and night while the least concentration occurs in the afternoon and mid-night. Monthly concentrations of the Nitrogen dioxide showed highest value in March. The seasonal concentrations showed the least amounts in spring while the highest in winter. Then Relations between the air pollutant and some meteorological parameters were calculated statistically using the daily average data. The temperature (min, max), precipitation, Wind Direction (max), Wind Speed (max) and Evaporation were considered as independent variables. The level relationships between concentration of pollutant and meteorological parameters were expressed by multiple linear equations for both annual and seasonal conditions using SPSS software. RMSE test showed that among different prediction models, stepwise model is the best option. Results showed that quantities of NO2 in different seasons and whole year could be estimated by climate parameters. Results also indicated that relations between the NO2 and meteorological parameters are stronger than whole year during the seasons.