Spatiotemporal variations of PM2.5 pollution and its dynamic relationships with meteorological conditions in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 301; p. 134640
• Main Authors: Deng, Chuxiong, Qin, Chunyan, Li, Zhongwu, Li, Ke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2022
• Subjects: air pollution; air pollution control; BTH region; China; Dynamic effects; Meteorological conditions; Panel VAR; PM2.5; relative humidity; solar radiation; standard deviation; temperature; wind speed; China; BTH region; Dynamic effects; Panel VAR; PM2.5; Meteorological conditions
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134640

Identifying the effects of meteorological conditions on PM2.5 pollution is of great significance to explore methods to reduce atmospheric pollution. This study attempts to analyze the spatiotemporal variations of PM2.5 pollution and its dynamic nexus with meteorological factors in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region from 2015 to 2020 using standard deviation ellipse (SDE) and panel vector autoregressive (PVAR) model. The results indicate that: (1) In 2015–2020, PM2.5 pollution decreased significantly, indicating air pollution control policies in China have taken effect; Also, it showed a cumulative effect, or there was the path dependence of air pollution. (2) PM2.5 pollution presented a distribution pattern from northeast to southwest, while the directionality of air pollution has weakened. Based on SDE, PM2.5 pollution in Cangzhou can reflect the average level in the BTH; (3) Meteorological conditions exhibited a lagged and sustained effect on PM2.5 pollution. Specifically, the effects of meteorological factors on PM2.5 presented disequilibrium over time. In the long run, precipitation and temperature mainly showed negative impacts on PM2.5 pollution, while wind speed, relative humidity and sunshine duration aggravated PM2.5 pollution in the BTH. This study contributes to extending the study on the spatiotemporal evolution of PM2.5 pollution and its links with meteorological conditions. [Display omitted] •PM2.5 decreased significantly on multiple time scales in BTH from 2015 to 2020.•The effects of meteorological conditions on PM2.5 were examined in BTH.•Panel VAR model was adopted to explore the effects from a dynamic perspective.•PM2.5 showed a cumulative effect, existing the path dependence of air pollution.•Meteorological factors exhibited a lagged and sustained effect on PM2.5.