Air Quality over China

Abstract

The strong economic growth in China in recent decades, together with meteorological factors, has resulted in serious air pollution problems, in particular over large industrialized areas with high population density. To reduce the concentrations of pollutants, air pollution control policies have been successfully implemented, resulting in the gradual decrease of air pollution in China during the last decade, as evidenced from both satellite and ground-based measurements. The aims of the Dragon 4 project “Air quality over China” were the determination of trends in the concentrations of aerosols and trace gases, quantification of emissions using a top-down approach and gain a better understanding of the sources, transport and underlying processes contributing to air pollution. This was achieved through (a) satellite observations of trace gases and aerosols to study the temporal and spatial variability of air pollutants; (b) derivation of trace gas emissions from satellite observations to study sources of air pollution and improve air quality modeling; and (c) study effects of haze on air quality. In these studies, the satellite observations are complemented with ground-based observations and modeling.

Clarifying Relationship between PM2.5 Concentrations and Spatiotemporal Predictors Using Multi-Way Partial Dependence Plots

“…In the GTJC model, the temporal codes (TC) and geospatial codes (GC) are the two most important features, whose importance values are 36.77% and 17.17%, respectively. This is consistent with previous studies that PM 2.5 concentrations vary drastically over time and space [46][47][48], therefore, the estimation of PM 2.5 concentrations across entire China is highly depending on geospatial location and time period. Generally, in winter, weather conditions are not in favor of the pollutants diffusion that can elevate the PM 2.5 concentrations [49,50].…”

Evaluation of Long-Term Modeling Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone in China During 2013–2019

“…Due to rapid population growth, industrialization, economic advancement, and urbanization, China has been experiencing severe air pollution problems in recent decades (de Leeuw et al, 2021;Zhao et al, 2021). In 2013, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China initiated the setting up of nationwide air pollution monitoring networks.…”

Partitioning for “Common but Differentiated” Precise Air Pollution Governance: A Combined Machine Learning and Spatial Econometric Approach

“…All recursive analyses were completed based on the above process, resulting in a decision tree, as shown in Figure 3a. (1) In terms of the heterogeneous influence level, Coa is in the first level as the primary partitioning factor. East is in the second level.…”

“…Three partitioning variables, geographic location, administrative level and economic zone, were screened (Figure 3b). (1) In terms of the heterogeneous influence level, Coa is in the first level as the primary partitioning factor. Cap is in the second level and East is in the third level.…”

“…Air pollution has become an increasingly prominent environmental issue with industrialization and urbanization in China [1]. Severe and persistent air pollution not only causes substantial economic loss, but also poses serious threats to buildings, biodiversity and human health [2][3][4].…”