Spatiotemporal Variations in Particulate Matter and Air Quality over China: National, Regional and Urban Scales

Hao Luo,Chunsong Lu,Yonghua Wu,Xinghong Cheng,Yong Han

doi:10.3390/atmos12010043

Abstract

Ambient exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution is known to have an adverse effect on public health worldwide. Rapid increase rates of economic and urbanization, industrial development, and environmental change in China have exacerbated the occurrence of air pollution. This study examines the temporal and spatial distribution of PM on national, regional and local scales in China during 2014–2016. The relationships between the PM2.5 concentration rising rate (PMRR) and meteorological parameters (wind speed and wind direction) are discussed. The dataset of Air Quality Index (AQI), PM10 (PM diameter < 10 μm ) and PM2.5 (PM diameter < 2.5 μm) were collected in 169, 369, and 367 cities in 2014, 2015, and 2016 over China, respectively. The results show that the air quality has been generally improved on the national scale, but deteriorated locally in areas such as the Feiwei Plain. The northwest China (NW) and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) regions are the worst areas of PM pollution, which are mainly manifested by the excessive PM10 caused by blowing dust in spring in NW and the intensive emissions of PM2.5 in winter in BTH. With the classified seven geographic regions, we demonstrate the significant spatial difference and seasonal variation of PM concentration and PM2.5/PM10 ratio, which indicate different emission sources. Furthermore, the dynamic analysis of the PM2.5 pollution process in 11 large urban cities shows dramatic effects of wind speed and wind direction on the PM2.5 loadings.

Highlights

Rapid increasing rates of economic and urban growth, industrial development, and environmental change in China have increased the occurrence of air pollution
We present the study of particulate matter (PM) pollution characteristics on the national, regional and local (11 large urban cities) scales in China by using the data of Air Quality Index (AQI), PM2.5, PM10, wind speed and wind direction in 2014–2016
The study of air quality in winter becomes very important in China

Summary

Introduction

Rapid increasing rates of economic and urban growth, industrial development, and environmental change in China have increased the occurrence of air pollution. Frequent heavy pollution incidents caused by particulate matter have become an urgent problem in China. Because of the severe situation and adverse effects of ambient air pollution, the State Council of. In 2018, aiming for a three-year effort to mitigate air pollution. A series of crucial measures have been taken to prevent further deterioration of air pollution in China. The “Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan” was enacted by the Chinese government in 2013. The latest studies reported that ambient air quality in China has shown signs of improvement in recent years, mainly due to the implementation of national policies. Wang et al [6] indicated that annual-averaged PM concentrations were lower in 2014 than that in 2013 at most stations in China, owing to the responses of local governments and public to the national policies. van der A et al [3]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion