Abstract
Haze has reached epidemic levels in many Chinese cities in recent years. Few studies have explored the determinants and heterogeneity of PM2.5. This paper investigates the spatiotemporal characteristics of PM2.5 through spatial analytical methods based on aerosol optical depth data from the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) between 2000 and 2017. Geographically weighted regression and geodetector models were applied to assess the heterogeneity of key factors influencing PM2.5. The results indicate that the annual concentrations of PM2.5 in the YREB were 23.49–37.37 μg/m3, with an initial increase and a later decrease. PM2.5 pollution showed a diagonal high spatial distribution pattern in the northeast and a low spatial distribution in the southwest, as well as a noticeable spatial convergence. The spatial variability of PM2.5 was enlarged, and its main fractal dimension was in the northeast-southwest direction. There were clear spatiotemporal variations in the impacts of natural and anthropogenic factors on PM2.5. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the impact mechanisms of PM2.5 and the geographic factors that form persistent and highly polluted areas and imply that more specific coping strategies need to be implemented in various areas toward successful particulate pollution prevention and control.
Highlights
Haze has reached epidemic levels in many Chinese cities in recent years
In 2005–2010, the annual P M2.5 concentration in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) was higher than the second-level standard of China of 35 μg/m3
It decreased to 31.79 μg/ m3 in 2017, a decrease of 14.93%. This improvement may be due to the effects of the national tenth 5-year plan on controlling the total emissions of major pollutants, adjusting the industrial structure, and establishing a monitoring, statistics, and assessment system for energy conservation and pollution emission reduction. It was further reinforced by the implementation of the Action Plan for Air Pollution Prevention and Control in 2013
Summary
Haze has reached epidemic levels in many Chinese cities in recent years. Few studies have explored the determinants and heterogeneity of PM2.5. With respect to the influence of socioeconomic factors related to anthropogenic activities on the distribution of PM2.5, studies suggest that energy-intensive economic growth and nonecological urbanization increase P M2.5 concentrations, implying that economic development, urbanization, industrialization, land use, and energy use mixtures and efficiency can affect urban air quality[13,22–24]. These studies provide many insights into urban particle pollution from the perspectives of artificial and natural conditions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
