Seasonal analysis of meteorological parameters and air pollutant concentrations in Kolkata: An evaluation of their relationship

Abstract

Air pollution and climate change present formidable global challenges, particularly in India, where the average PM2.5 concentration in 2022 surpassed the WHO annual guideline level, resulting in detrimental health impacts including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and pediatric illnesses. This research delves into the analysis and validation of the intricate connection between meteorological factors and air pollutants for the city of Kolkata, India. Season-wise correlation analyses utilizing Pearson and Spearman rank correlations are presented to identify both linear and nonlinear relationships between meteorological factors and air pollutants. The significance of correlations is determined using the t-test. Notably, the study incorporated the dew point temperature as a specific meteorological parameter to establish its correlation with various pollutant concentrations. Findings underscore a strong association between dew point and PM2.5 as well as PM10 concentration, notably in winter (r = 0.65 and r = 0.72, respectively) and in summer (r = 0.74 and r = 0.73, respectively). The dew point temperature shows strong correlation with particulate matter than maximum temperature and average temperature for Kolkata. Additionally, other climate factors such as relative humidity, and cloud cover exhibited strong relationships with particulate matter during both winter and summer seasons. These findings shed light on the critical role of meteorological aspects in influencing air pollution dynamics in Kolkata and contribute to the understanding of how weather conditions impact air quality in tropical coastal regions.