Influence of Mixing Layer Height on Air Pollution in the City of Zagreb, Croatia

The mixing layer height (MLH) is a key meteorological parameter governing the dispersion and accumulation of air pollutants in the atmospheric boundary layer. Over the Zagreb urban area, low MLH values are associated with stable atmospheric conditions and temperature inversions that inhibit vertical air mixing and promote pollutant accumulation near the ground. This study investigates the influence of MLH on concentrations of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 µm (PM10) and particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using a five-year dataset of radiosonde measurements and air quality observations. Daily MLH values at 12:00 UTC were compared with simultaneous measurements of PM10 and PAH concentrations. Inversion conditions (MLH < 1000 m) occurred on 44% of days, with approximately 80% of events recorded during the cold season. Elevated PM10 and PAH concentrations were strongly associated with these stable conditions. Of 69 daily exceedances of the PM10 limit value (50 µg m−3), 62 occurred during inversion events. Statistical tests confirmed significantly higher concentrations during stable atmospheric conditions (p < 0.05), with further increases observed during prolonged inversion periods. Empirical relationships between MLH and pollutant concentrations were developed and may support future machine-learning-based air quality forecasting. The results highlight atmospheric stability as a critical factor for urban air quality management.