Examination and prediction of fog and haze pollution using a Multi-variable Grey Model based on interval number sequences

Abstract

In this study, a new Multivariable Grey Model (1,m) aimed at interval grey number sequences with known possibility functions is built using the kernel and degree of greyness under new definitions. Based on the new model, formulae are deduced to calculate and predict the upper and lower bounds of interval grey numbers. Since the grey system model and fog- and haze-prone weather have the same characteristics of uncertainty, this model was applied to simulate and predict the measurable indicators of fog and haze in Nanjing, China. We selected visibility data and particulate matter data with a diameter of 2.5 µm to build a new Multivariable Grey Model (1,2) with a new kernel and degree of greyness sequence. In addition, we established the traditional Multivariable Grey Model (1,2) with the original kernel and degree of greyness and the Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average Model (1,1,0). The results show that the new Multivariable Grey Model (1,2) has the best simulation and prediction effects among the three models, with average relative errors of simulation and prediction at 1.32% and 0.32%, respectively. To further verify the validity and feasibility of the proposed model, we added another real-world example to establish the three models mentioned above. The results prove that the proposed model has evidently superior performance to another two models.