Yarmouk University

Faculty of Science

Physics Department

The Correlation of Meteorological Parameters and Atmospheric CO2

Concentration in the North of Jordan

By
Mo’ath Rababa
Anas Widyan
Mohammad Bani Younis

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 1.1 INTRODUCTION

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound and one of the components of the

atmosphere, it consists of a carbon atom attached with two oxygen atoms and

symbolizes it CO2. Carbon dioxide is a colorless gas and odorless.

The atmospheric CO2 concentration has increased from approximately 310 to 400

parts per million (ppm) globally over the period 1960-2016 and expected to reach

more than 500 ppm by 2050 (Jiamei Yu. 2017). The time series below shows global

distribution and variation of the concentration of mid-tropospheric carbon dioxide

in parts per million (nasa.gov 5 Mar 2020).

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 Figure (1. 1) Time series of the global variation of carbon dioxide over the period from 1965
to 2016

There are both natural and human sources of carbon dioxide emissions. Natural

sources include decomposition, respiration volcanic eruption and respiration.

Human sources come from activities like cement production, deforestation as well

as the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas (nasa.gov 5 Mar 2020).

The climate of the earth is constantly changing as a result of increasing the

greenhouse effect. Increases of the atmospheric carbon dioxide are responsible for

about two-thirds of the total energy imbalance that is causing Earth's temperature to

rise (epa.gov 6 Mar 2020). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

forecasts a temperature rise of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century,

because of the emission of carbon dioxide (nasa.gov 5 Mar 2020).

Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas that helps to trap heat in our

atmosphere. Without it, our planet would be inhospitably cold. Carbon dioxide plays

a key role in Earth's carbon cycle, the set of processes that cycle carbon in many

forms throughout our environment (ucar.edu 9 Mar 2020).

Plant responses to atmospheric carbon dioxide will be of great concern in the

future. The increase in photosynthesis caused by CO2 results in an increase in

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carbohydrate production, which alters the plant's carbon and nitrogen metabolism

(nih.gov 9Mar 2020).

There is a relationship between carbon dioxide and meteorological parameters,

CO2 concentrations increased by increasing humidity (Gładyszewska-Fiedoruk K.

2013). CO2 concentration is inversely proportional to wind speed ( Ying CS .2010

and Hassan A. 2015) .

In this study, we want to measure CO2 in AL-Wastiyah district using CO2 meter

models CM-0052 and study its relation with the metrological parameters (relative

humidity, temperature, wind speed, wind direction and dew point).

1.2 Objectives of the study

1- Measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in different locations at

Al-Wastiah district.

2- Studying the relationship between CO2 concentration and meteorological

parameters in two locations in Al-Wastiah district.

3- Studying the difference in the concentration of carbon dioxide during

winter and summer in the Al-kharag region.

1.3 LITERATURE REVIEW

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 In 2012, Gładyszewska-Fiedoruk studied the relation between CO 2 and humidity

in three kindergartens, different from each in the external insulation of the walls.

Relying on the obtained measurement result an almost complete relationship was

observed in 61% of the measurements (Gładyszewska-Fiedoruk K. 2013).

In 2010 Chan So Ying studied and analyzed the local pattern and the dynamic

behavior of CO2 concentration in Hong Kong city. He studied the variation pattern

of CO2 in diurnal, daily variation and their relationship with meteorological

parameters and found that the wind speed, solar radiation, and air temperature are

the major factors affecting the diurnal and daily CO2 concentration (Ying CS .2010).

In 2015 Lazovi et al. studied the impact of CO2 concentration on indoor air quality

and its correlation with relative humidity and indoor air temperature in a school

building in Serbia at four schools with different locations and architecture designs

from each other. He conducted the study during winter (heating season) and spring

(non-heating season). The results showed that CO2 concentration increased

significantly from spring to winter, and they found a high correlation between

relative humidity and carbon dioxide concentration in all schools (Lazović I. 2016).

In 2013 Turanjanin et al. studied the ventilation rates and measured the

concentration of CO2 in five schools in urban and rural areas in Serbia during the

heating season. The results showed that classroom ventilation was inadequate during

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the heating season period and the average CO2 concentration was 1000ppm

(Turanjanin V. 2014).

In 2015, Hassan studied the daily and monthly variation of carbon dioxide

concentration level. The study showed the concentrations of CO2 in winter were

higher compared to their value in summer. He studied the effect of meteorological

variables on the CO2 level, the results showed that the wind speed and the ambient

air temperature have negative correlations on the CO2 levels; On the other hand, the

relative humidity has a positive effect (Hassan A. 2015).

In 2018, Pathakoti, M. et al studied carbon dioxide concentration and

meteorological parameters. Statistical analysis showed that metrological conditions,

specifically precipitation (snowfall) and relative humidity, were major conditions for

the variability of atmospheric CO2 concentration. The lowest CO2 values were

correlated with high snowfall days (Pathakoti, M. 2018).

1.4 Study area

The study area is Al-Wastiah district (32.58 N, 53.70 E). The district is located

on the western side of the Irbid governorate close to the Jordan valley international

road, 14 km from the center of Irbid governorate. The district has an area of 245.7

km2 and a population of 47060 people.

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 The district consists of 7 main villages; the center of the region is Kufrasad, as

shown in (figure 3.1).

Figure (2.1): Al-Wastiah district map

The climate of Al-Wastiah district is hot in summer and cold in winter. In summer,

the average daily temperature is 35 C0, while in winter the average daily temperature

is 10 C0.

Al-Wastiah district is exposed too much to outdoor air pollution such as active

traffic and also the various agricultural machines used in the agricultural operation,

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which contributes to the emission of large quantities of carbon dioxide. Al-Wastiah

district is also popular for cultivation during the year.

1.5 Measurements

The chosen measurement locations were Kufrasad, Qumaym, Houfa, Kufraan,

Qum, Saydur and AL-Kharaj in Al-Wasatiyah district. Measurements were

conducted during August, 2019 and February, 2020.

Table 1 shows the measurement sites and dates. In the sites from 1 to 6,

measurements were conducted during only one day. While in the 7th site, which is in

AL-Kharaj, measurements were conducted during two periods, one in summer

season and the second in winter season.

Table (2.1): measurement sites and dates.

Site number Site name Date

1 Kufrasad 27/8/2019

2 Qumaym 28/8/2019

3 Houfa 29/8/2019

4 Kufraan 30/8/2019

5 Qum 31/8/2019

6 Saydur 31/8/2019

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 7 AL-Kharaj (13-19)/8/2019 and (7-13)/2/2020

In all sites of measurement, carbon dioxide was measured using carbon dioxide

meter model CM-0052.

The relationship between carbon dioxide and metreological parameters

(temperature, relative humidity, dew point, wind speed, wind direction) were studied

in Qumaym and Kufran.

Excel and origenlab were used to plot the relationship between carbon dioxide and

metreological parameter. And jmp program was used to plot the relationship

between wind direction and carbon dioxide.

1.6 co2 Device and weather station

In this study, a carbon dioxide meter model CM-0052 (figure 3.2) was used to

measure carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. CM-0052 meter stores up

to 15000 collected data, and built-in 1000 hours sampling micro-pomp. CM-0052

meter uses the non-dispersive infrared technology to sense, as a function of

transmitted light, the concentration of CO2 in the air (Slack A. 20 Aug 2019).

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 In association with the CO2 measurements, meteorological parameters

(temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and dew point) were measured

using a Device weather station (figure 3.3)

Figure (2.2): Carbon dioxide meter model CM-0052 Figure (2.3): weather station

CO2 meter model CM-0052 use non-dispersive infrared technology (NDIR).

Figure (2.4): schematic diagram of CO2 meter model CM-0052

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 Figure 3.4 show schematic diagram of NDIR CO2 meter. When the gas inter from

the inlet to the sample chamber infrared (IR) lamp send wave toward an optical filter

in front of an IR light detector through a chamber, filled with air. The IR light

detector measures the amount of IR light that passes through the optical filter. The

IR Lamp emits 4.2 micros of infrared radiation, while CO2 absorbs 4.26 micros

infrared radiation which is very close to the light produced by the lamp. IR spectrum

of CO2 is unique, matching the light source wavelength serves as ''fingerprint'' to

identify the CO2 molecule. After CO2 gas molecules absorb the specific band of IR

light, the rest of the rays pass to optical filter through the length of the tube. Finally,

an IR detector reads the remaining amount of 4.2 micron light that was not absorbed

by the CO2 molecules or the optical filter.

1.7 Measurement process

Before starting any measurement we re-calibrated the CO2 meter, as mentioned in

the manual (Slack A. 20 Aug 2019). Each day of measurement we calibrate CO2

meter in the lab using argon gas. Then After calibrating the device, we go out to the

study area, carrying the weather station, carbon dioxide meter, and a computer. We

supply electricity to the devices and then start the measurement process.

The measurement process in the AL-Kharaj region took a long time, and I calibrated

the device once before the measurement process.

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