Atmospheric electricity as a proxy for air quality: Relationship between potential gradient and pollutant gases in an urban environment

A relationship between Trace Gases (TG), NOx, SO2, O3, and the Atmospheric Electric Potential Gradient (PG), through Ion/Particulate Matter (PM) interaction, is established in the urban environment of the city of Lisbon (Portugal). Analysis was restricted to 1988-1990, when simultaneous measurements of PG and TG were taken. Reasonable linear relationships between PG and TG concentrations have been found. A formulation relating PG with TG concentrations allows the estimation of constants of proportionally between TG-PM to be ∼50 cm−3 ppb−1; which are similar to the values found in direct TG-PM measurements in UK cities, validating the present results.