Analysis of Spatio-temporal Characteristics of Air Quality, Meteorological Impact, and Emission Reduction Effect During the Winter Olympics in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Its Surrounding Areas

Abstract

From January 31st to February 20th, 2015 to 2022, the spatio-temporal characteristics of the PM2.5 pollution evolution of 44 cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region and its surrounding areas were analyzed. The contribution of simultaneous meteorology, coordinated emission reduction, and cross-regional transmission to PM2.5 concentration and chemical component changes were quantified, respectively, with the aim to provide scientific reference for regional air quality joint prevention and control under adverse meteorological conditions. The results showed that the mean value of PM2.5 concentration of 44 cities in 2022 was the lowest(46 μg·m-3) without heavy pollution in the same period of the lunar calendar since 2015, whereas the proportion of days with good air quality was the highest(83.3%). PM2.5 pollution was more serious in the southern region than that in the northern region, and the high values were mainly concentrated along the Taihang Mountains and Yanshan transmission channel cities. In 2016, under the unregulated emission of fireworks in the Spring Festival, the proportion of unpolluted days was 93.5%, which means that the strong atmospheric diffusion ability was crucial to improve air quality. In 2022, the static weather index(SWI) increased by 2.1 compared with that in 2021, indicating unfavorable atmospheric diffusion capacity. The average and peak values of PM2.5 decreased by 14 μg·m-3 and 76 μg·m-3, respectively. The reduction in PM2.5 concentration in Beijing owing to emission reduction measures increased by 96% compared with that before one month. Under the adverse atmospheric background in the Shanxi-Shandong-Henan Region, which contributed to the increase in PM2.5 concentration, the peak value of PM2.5 concentration decreased by 87 μg·m-3, indicating that the peak clipping effect of regional collaborative pollution emission reduction was significant. From 2019 to 2022, the concentration of PM2.5 chemical components decreased yearly with narrowed spatial differences, and the high value was concentrated in the central and southern regions. The descending order of PM2.5 secondary component concentration decrease was as follows:organic matter(21.9%)>sulfate(20%)>ammonium salt(16.7%)>nitrate(9.7%). The proportion of nitrate in PM2.5 increased yearly to 30.1%, indicating that the contribution of traffic pollution was relatively prominent. In 2022, the SNA concentration in the Shanxi-Shandong-Henan Region increased. Pollution from external sources accounted for the main contribution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region(>50%). Liaoning Province contributed significantly to the PM2.5 concentration in cities along the Bohai(>10%), and nitrate and sulfate were easy to transport over long distances. It is necessary to strengthen the coordinated control of precursors of secondary chemical components SO2, NOx, and NH3.