Determinant Meteorological Factors Related to Quarry Industry in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Determinant meteorological factors are used to manage and control the release of pollutants into atmospheric environment. This is essential for the understanding and effective control of the fate and transport of air pollutants. Based on this, air quality assessment was carried out to determine the impact on quarry operations at the outskirts of Ibadan city, Nigeria. Air quality sampling stations within the quarry were at the blasting section, crushing section, asphalt section, transport section and a control point two kilometres upward away from the quarry.  The sampling sites were monitored for various emissions for Particulate Matter Emissions and the prevalent conditions of relative humidity, temperature, wind speed and direction.  Data poll was augmented with secondary macro climatic data which were collected from a weather station near the quarry Samonda, Ibadan. Results indicate that  temperature increased the rates of chemical reactions, reduced the solubility of gases and since the ambient temperature decreased in the wet season, there was more gaseous pollution in the dry season as the high average temperature enhanced floatation and hence the dispersion of pollutants.. There was a significant increase in relative humidity during the wet season, while the wind speeds were maximum during the day and minimum at dawn.

The wet season wind rose showed that the months were dominated by the westerly and southerly winds; pollutants would be conveyed more by these winds in the wet season while the dry season wind rose showed dominance of the westerly and southwesterly winds.

Keywords: determinant, quarry, air quality assessment, meteorology, air pollution, emissions