Analysis of the spatial and temporal evolution pattern of PM2.5 and its influencing factors on the Loess Plateau

IF 4.5 2区地球科学 Q1 METEOROLOGY & ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES

Atmospheric Research Pub Date : 2025-03-28 DOI:10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108108

Chaoya Zhang , Peng Li , Yongxia Meng , Zhiwei Cui , Lei Pei

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

As a major source of atmospheric pollution, the spatiotemporal evolution patterns and influencing factors of PM_2.5 are crucial for the regulation of air quality. The Loess Plateau, a vital ecological barrier in China, is a transitional zone for northwest dust transport and eastern industrial pollution, making its environmental issues particularly significant. With its fragile ecosystem, PM_2.5 pollution not only degrades air quality but may also exacerbate soil erosion and ecological degradation. Understanding PM_2.5 distribution patterns is essential for formulating regional ecological protection strategies and promoting sustainable development. However, research on the spatiotemporal distribution and influencing factors of air pollutants in this region remains limited. This study analyzed PM_2.5 vector data from 2010 to 2020 to explore its spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing factors. Results indicate that the annual mean PM_2.5 concentration decreased during this period, from 44.570 μg·m⁻³ in 2010 to 30.207 μg·m⁻³ in 2020, a decrease of 32.25 %. In terms of spatial distribution, the PM_2.5 concentration shows a pattern of ‘high in the southeast and low in the northwest’, with hotspots mainly concentrated in the provinces of Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi, and cold spots in Inner Mongolia and Qinghai. Through geodetectors and correlation analyses, it was found that natural factors (e.g., altitude, temperature, and precipitation) had a significantly greater influence on PM_2.5 concentrations than socioeconomic factors. In particular, elevation (DEM) had the strongest explanatory power for PM_2.5 concentrations and was significantly negatively correlated with PM_2.5 concentrations. It was also found that PM_2.5 concentrations were significantly higher in winter than in other seasons, mainly due to low winter temperatures, inversions, and residents' reliance on coal for heating. The airflow in Xi'an and Taiyuan mainly originated from the north-west, with 53.53 % and 58.09 %, respectively. Potential source areas for Xi'an included Guangyuan, Yuncheng, Xiangyang, and Yan'an, while Taiyuan's sources were primarily Shijiazhuang (Hebei) and Zhengzhou (Henan). Overall, the control of PM_2.5 pollution in the Loess Plateau has achieved remarkable results, but interregional synergistic management and ecological protection still need to be strengthened in the future.

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黄土高原 PM2.5 的时空演变模式及其影响因素分析

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来源期刊

Atmospheric Research 地学-气象与大气科学

CiteScore

9.40

自引率

10.90%

发文量

460

审稿时长

47 days

期刊介绍： The journal publishes scientific papers (research papers, review articles, letters and notes) dealing with the part of the atmosphere where meteorological events occur. Attention is given to all processes extending from the earth surface to the tropopause, but special emphasis continues to be devoted to the physics of clouds, mesoscale meteorology and air pollution, i.e. atmospheric aerosols; microphysical processes; cloud dynamics and thermodynamics; numerical simulation, climatology, climate change and weather modification.