A novel approach to comparing simultaneous size-segregated particulate matter (PM) concentration ratios by means of a dedicated triangular diagram using the Agri Valley PM measurements as an example

Abstract. This work presents a novel approach to comparing and graphically representing simultaneous concentration measurements of PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM₁ (i.e., aerosol particles with aerodynamic diameters less than 10, 2.5 and 1 μm, respectively) with similar data reported in the literature using PM_2.5/PM₁₀ and PM₁/PM₁₀ concentration ratios. With this aim, a dedicated triangular diagram was used. The proposed approach was applied to size-segregated particulate matter (PM) concentrations recorded in the Agri Valley (Basilicata region – southern Italy). Results show that the PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM₁ concentrations recorded in the Agri Valley are comparable both in terms of PM concentration ratios and PM levels to an urban site.