Relevance Analysis on the Variety Characteristics of PM 2.5 Concentrations in Beijing, China

Binxu Zhai, Jianguo Chen, Wenwen Yin and Zhongliang Huang
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Binxu Zhai: Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Jianguo Chen: Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Wenwen Yin: Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Zhongliang Huang: Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Air pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems in the world. Considering Beijing and six surrounding cities as main research areas, this study takes the daily average pollutant concentrations and meteorological factors from 2 December 2013 to 30 June 2017 into account and studies the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics and the relevant relationship of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) concentrations in Beijing. Based on correlation analysis and geo-statistics techniques, the inter-annual, seasonal, and diurnal variation trends and temporal spatial distribution characteristics of PM 2.5 concentration in Beijing are studied. The study results demonstrate that the pollutant concentrations in Beijing exhibit obvious seasonal and cyclical fluctuation patterns. Air pollution is more serious in winter and spring and slightly better in summer and autumn, with the spatial distribution of pollutants fluctuating dramatically in different seasons. The pollution in southern Beijing areas is more serious and the air quality in northern areas is better in general. The diurnal variation of air quality shows a typical seasonal difference and the daily variation of PM 2.5 concentrations present a “W” type of mode with twin peaks. Besides emission and accumulation of local pollutants, air quality is easily affected by the transport effect from the southwest. The PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations measured from the city of Langfang are taken as the most important factors of surrounding pollution factors to PM 2.5 in Beijing. The concentrations of PM 10 and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in Beijing are the most significant local influencing factors to PM 2.5 in Beijing. Extreme wind speeds and maximal wind speeds are considered to be the most significant meteorological factors affecting the transport of pollutants across the region. When the wind direction is weak southwest wind, the probability of air pollution is greater and when the wind direction is north, the air quality is generally better.

Keywords: relevance analysis; spatial and temporal distribution characteristics; PM 2.5; Beijing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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