WEATHER AND CLIMATE ON THE RELIABILITY OF ENVIROMAGNETIC STUDIES OF TREE LEAVES IN AIR POLLUTION MONITORING

Abstract:

Monthly monitoring of the magnetic properties of Platanus hispanica tree leaves to assess atmospheric pollution in Madrid (Spain) and its suburban town of Pozuelo de Alarcon showed anthropogenic time-related k_lf enhancement of tree leaves. We established a significant correlation between metal concentration (leaching) in the leaves with K_lf and IRM_1T. This relationship was not as high as those found in other studies carried out on airborne dust, sediments and soils. Further analyses pointed out that local humidity played a dual roll, controlling availability of airborne lithogenic dust and the incorporation of trace metals in the leaf tissue, modulating the magnetic enhancement.

Further to these findings, the comparison between cities of different climatic regimes showed that air humidity is the major factor controlling the interaction of the atmosphere and tree leaves, thus their magnetic properties. The relative influence of pollutants, lithogenic dust and biological effects depends not only on local meteorology but also on climate. Their influence should be most seriously considered to design methodological approaches that are appropriate to the environmental characteristics of each study area, if the magnetic properties of tree leaves are intended as an atmospheric pollution-monitoring tool.