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

Abstract

Abstract:Haze pollution has become a severe environmental problem in the daily life of the people in China. PM 2.5 makes a significant contribution to poor air quality. The spatio-temporal features of China's PM 2.5 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 PM 2.5 concentrations in China and the correlations among different industries. We tested the spatial autocorrelation of PM 2.5 concentrations in the cities of China with the spatial autocorrelation model. A correlation coefficient to examine the correlativity of PM 2.5 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 PM 2.5 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 PM 2.5 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) PM 2.5 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.

Estimating the Effects of Economic Agglomeration on Haze Pollution in Yangtze River Delta China Using an Econometric Analysis

“…And there was 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 [24].…”

Spatiotemporal characteristics of urban air quality in China and geographic detection of their determinants

“…Urban air quality in China has attracted much interest from multi-disciplinary perspectives, among which the regional disparity of air pollution is an important one. Most of the studies have explored the spatial spillover effect and regional homogeneity characteristics of air pollution in China from different spatial dimensions, ranging from nationwide to urban agglomerations and specific cities (Sun et al, 2012;Fang et al, 2016;Lin and Wang, 2016;Peng et al, 2016;Gong and Zhang, 2017). To account for the regional variation of air quality, many researchers have examined the influencing factors relevant to urban air quality.…”

Spatial-temporal characteristics and determinants of PM2.5 in the Bohai Rim Urban Agglomeration

“…This aroused great concern. The increase in the PM 2.5 concentration not only reduces atmospheric visibility (Kan et al 2012) and impacts negatively on human health (Boldo et al 2011;Pope and Dockery, 2006), but also impacts climate change by affecting the radiation balance (Wang et al 2015b). However, the PM 2.5 concentration, affected by the intensity of emission sources, topography and climatic factors, is subject to spatial and temporal variability (Cao et al 2007).…”