Effects of anthropogenic precursor emissions and meteorological conditions on PM2.5 concentrations over the "2+26" cities of northern China

Junwu Dong; Pengfei Liu; Hongquan Song; Dongyang Yang; Jie Yang; Genxin Song; Changhong Miao; Jiejun Zhang; Longlong Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120392

Effects of anthropogenic precursor emissions and meteorological conditions on PM_2.5 concentrations over the "2+26" cities of northern China

Environ Pollut. 2022 Dec 15:315:120392. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120392. Epub 2022 Oct 14.

Authors

Junwu Dong¹, Pengfei Liu², Hongquan Song³, Dongyang Yang⁴, Jie Yang⁵, Genxin Song⁶, Changhong Miao⁷, Jiejun Zhang⁸, Longlong Zhang⁹

Affiliations

¹ 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; College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China; College of Resource Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China. Electronic address: 2210902150@cnu.edu.cn.
² 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; College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China; Institute of Urban Big Data, College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China. Electronic address: lpf@henu.edu.cn.
³ College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China; Institute of Urban Big Data, College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China; Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for the Middle and Lower Yellow River Regions (Henan University), Ministry of Education, Kaifeng, 475004, China. Electronic address: hqsong@henu.edu.cn.
⁴ 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. Electronic address: yangdy@henu.edu.cn.
⁵ 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. Electronic address: yangjie19881019@163.com.
⁶ College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China. Electronic address: gxsong@henu.edu.cn.
⁷ 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. Electronic address: chhmiao@henu.edu.cn.
⁸ 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. Electronic address: jiejunzhang1998@163.com.
⁹ College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China. Electronic address: zll123654aa@163.com.

PMID: 36244499
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120392

Abstract

Elucidating the characteristics and influencing mechanisms of PM_2.5 concentrations is the premise and key to the precise prevention and control of air pollution. However, the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of PM_2.5 concentrations and its driving mechanism are complex and need to be further analyzed. We analyzed the temporal and spatial variations of PM_2.5 concentrations in the "2 + 26" cities from 2015 to 2021, and quantified the influence of meteorological factors and anthropogenic emissions and their interactions on PM_2.5 concentrations based on geographic detector model. We find the inter-annual and inter-season PM_2.5 concentrations show downward trend from 2015 to 2021, and the inter-month PM_2.5 concentrations present a U-shaped distribution. The PM_2.5 concentrations in the "2 + 26" cities manifest a spatial distribution pattern of high in the south and low in the north, and high in the middle and low in the surroundings. Meteorological conditions have stronger effects on PM_2.5 concentrations than anthropogenic emissions, and planetary boundary layer height and temperature are the two main driving factors at the annual scale. On the seasonal scale, sunshine duration is the dominant factor of PM_2.5 concentrations in summer and autumn, and planetary boundary layer height is the dominant factor of PM_2.5 concentrations in winter. The effect of anthropogenic emissions on PM_2.5 concentration is higher in winter and spring than in summer and autumn, and ammonia and ozone have stronger effects on PM_2.5 concentrations than other anthropogenic emissions. Interactions between the factors significantly enhance the PM_2.5 concentrations. The interactions between planetary boundary layer height and other impacting factors play dominant roles on PM_2.5 concentrations at annual scale and in winter. Our results not only provide crucial information for further developing air quality policies of the "2 + 26" cities, but also bear out several important implications for clean air policies in China and other regions of the world.

Keywords: Air pollution; GeoDetector model; Interactive effects; PM(2.5); The “2+26” cities.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / analysis
China
Cities
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Particulate Matter / analysis
Seasons

Substances

Air Pollutants
Particulate Matter