- 1Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Atmospheric sciences, Delhi, India (arzoo.dhankhar7@gmail.com)
- 2University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
- 3AirHealth Pty Ltd., Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- 4European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Truro, UK
- 5Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
- 6School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- 7Adjunct Faculty, Department of Health, Policy and Management, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
Background: Climate change has been associated with changes in pollen allergenicity, plant phenology, and overall pollen production levels highlighting its potential implications for public health. These changes can further lead to shifts in the duration, timing, and intensity of pollen seasons, affecting both allergenic and non-allergenic plant species.
Objective: We analysed changes in grass and other pollen concentrations, pollen seasons and daily maximum temperatures over 32 years (1990 to 2023) in Melbourne.
Methods: Daily pollen counts were collected at Parkville, Melbourne every year for three months, October to December. Pollen was categorized as grass and other with other being trees and weeds. Seasonal trend decomposition was used to analyse long term trends in daily maximum temperatures and daily pollen concentrations. Linear regression was used to analyse changes in start, end and duration of core pollen season.
Results and discussion: According to preliminary results, the daily maximum temperature increased (Est slope = 0.0001/day, p <0.01) in Melbourne over the study years while the daily pollen concentrations depicted decreasing trend (p < 0.01). Core pollen season in Melbourne had an earlier start date (Est slope = -0.34 day/year, p < 0.01) and a longer duration (p < 0.01) over the decades 1990 to 2023. The results suggest climate change might be affecting the pollen seasons but the effect on pollen concentrations may have been masked by other environmental and climatic factors. These insights could have significant implications for vulnerable population, healthcare, research and urban planning.
How to cite: Dhankhar, A., Darssan, D., Dey, S., R Lampugnani, E., and J Osborne, N.: Analysing changes in temperature and pollen concentrations in Melbourne over 30 years, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14502, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14502, 2025.
