Spatial-temporal characteristics of PM2.5 in China: A city-level perspective analysis

Abstract

Haze pollution has become a severe environmental problem in the daily life of the people in China. PM2.5 makes a significant contribution to poor air quality. The spatio-temporal features of China’s PM2.5 concentrations should be investigated. This paper, based on observed data from 945 newly located monitoring sites in 2014 and industrial working population data obtained from International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), reveals the spatio-temporal variations of PM2.5 concentrations in China and the correlations among different industries. We tested the spatial autocorrelation of PM2.5 concentrations in the cities of China with the spatial autocorrelation model. A correlation coefficient to examine the correlativity of PM2.5 concentrations and 23 characteristic variables for 190 cities in China in 2014, from which the most important ones were chosen, and then a regression model was built to further reveal the social and economic factors affecting PM2.5 concentrations. Results: (1) The Hu Huanyong Line and the Yangtze River were the E-W divide and S-N divide between high and low values of China. (2) The PM2.5 concentrations shows great seasonal variation, which is high in autumn and winter but low in spring and summer. The monthly average shows a U-shaped pattern, and daily average presents a periodic and impulse-shaped change. (3) PM2.5 concentrations had a distinct characteristic of spatial agglomeration. The North China Plain was the predominant region of agglomeration, and the southeastern coastal area had stable good air quality.