Effects of Meteorological Factors and Anthropogenic Precursors on PM_2.5 Concentrations in Cities in China

• Main Authors: Ziyun Jing, Pengfei Liu, Tuanhui Wang, Hongquan Song, Jay Lee, Tao Xu, Yu Xing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-04-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: PM_2.5; particulate matter; interactions; GeoDetector; air quality
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/9/3550

Fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) in size can significantly affect human health, atmospheric visibility, climate, and ecosystems. PM_2.5 has become the major air pollutant in most cities of China. However, influencing factors and their interactive effects on PM_2.5concentrations remain unclear. This study used a geographic detector method to quantify the effects of anthropogenic precursors (AP) and meteorological factors on PM_2.5concentrations in cities of China. Results showed that impacts of meteorological conditions and AP on PM_2.5 have significant spatio-temporal disparities. Temperature was the main influencing factor throughout the whole year, which can explain 27% of PM_2.5 concentrations. Precipitation and temperature were primary impacting factors in southern and northern China, respectively, at the annual time scale. In winter, AP had stronger impacts on PM_2.5 in northern China than in other seasons. Ammonia had stronger impacts on PM_2.5 than other anthropogenic precursors in winter. The interaction between all factors enhanced the formation of PM_2.5concentrations. The interaction between ammonia and temperature had strongest impacts at the national scale, explaining 46% (<i>q</i> = 0.46) of PM_2.5concentrations. The findings comprehensively elucidated the relative importance of driving factors in PM_2.5 formation, which can provide basic foundations for understanding the meteorological and anthropogenic influences on the concentration patterns of PM_2.5.