Multi-Scale Effects of Meteorological Conditions and Anthropogenic Emissions on PM2.5 Concentrations over Major Cities of the Yellow River Basin

Jiejun Zhang, Pengfei Liu (), Hongquan Song (), Changhong Miao, Jie Yang, Longlong Zhang, Junwu Dong, Yi Liu, Yunlong Zhang and Bingchen Li
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Jiejun Zhang: Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Pengfei Liu: Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Hongquan Song: College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Changhong Miao: Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Jie Yang: Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Longlong Zhang: College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Junwu Dong: College of Resource Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
Yi Liu: Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Yunlong Zhang: College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Bingchen Li: College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-17

Abstract: The mechanism behind PM2.5 pollution is complex, and its performance at multi-scales is still unclear. Based on PM2.5 monitoring data collected from 2015 to 2021, we used the GeoDetector model to assess the multi-scale effects of meteorological conditions and anthropogenic emissions, as well as their interactions with PM2.5 concentrations in major cities in the Yellow River Basin (YRB). Our study confirms that PM2.5 concentrations in the YRB from 2015 to 2021 show an inter-annual and inter-season decreasing trend and that PM2.5 concentrations varied more significantly in winter. The inter-month variation of PM2.5 concentrations shows a sinusoidal pattern from 2015 to 2021, with the highest concentrations in January and December and the lowest from June to August. The PM2.5 concentrations for major cities in the middle and downstream regions of the YRB are higher than in the upper areas, with high spatial distribution in the east and low spatial distribution in the west. Anthropogenic emissions and meteorological conditions have similar inter-annual effects, while air pressure and temperature are the two main drivers across the whole basin. At the sub-basin scale, meteorological conditions have stronger inter-annual effects on PM2.5 concentrations, of which temperature is the dominant impact factor. Wind speed has a significant effect on PM2.5 concentrations across the four seasons in the downstream region and has the strongest effect in winter. Primary PM2.5 and ammonia are the two main emission factors. Interactions between the factors significantly enhanced the PM2.5 concentrations. The interaction between ammonia and other emissions plays a dominant role at the whole and sub-basin scales in summer, while the interaction between meteorological factors plays a dominant role at the whole-basin scale in winter. Our study not only provides cases and references for the development of PM2.5 pollution prevention and control policies in YRB but can also shed light on similar regions in China as well as in other regions of the world.

Keywords: air pollution; PM2.5; GeoDetector model; interactive effects; the Yellow River Basin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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