Klima und Lufthygiene der Region Biel : Gedanken und erste Resultate aus einer interdisziplinären Studie

Abstract. An urban climate and air pollution study in the small town of Biel (Switzerland; population: 85000 including suburbs) aims not only at the analysis of a very dense distribution of emissions, dispersion climate and depositions, but also attempts to correlate these factors with selected effects on man. These effects include the impacts on children's respiratory organs and the growth of plants (liehen). The findings of this study will have direct application in land use planning and related political decisions for new highway Systems, selection of new housing developments and industrial districts, as well as future fuel supply options.
Initial results show that future activities should concentrate on case studies during anticyclonic wintertime weather types with north-northeasterly synoptic flow. These weather types are associated with cold air advection, weak winds, strong temperature inversions and consequently, high air pollution rates in the Biel area. A first draft of a very dense analysis of the air pollution potential for a similar weather type has been worked out (figure 5). This analysis will be used for the design of additional mobile measurements and modeling studies.