The Characteristics of PM2.5 Pollution Episodes during 2016–2019 in Sichuan Basin, China

Abstract Many studies have been conducted to explore the characteristics of PM2.5 pollution events in Sichuan Basin, China. However, they focused on either specific regional pollution events from different aspects or the megacities, such as Chengdu and Chongqing. To provide a panorama gram of PM2.5...

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Main Authors: Xiaodong Wu, Guangming Shi, Xing Xiang, Fumo Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2021-09-01
Series:Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210126
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author Xiaodong Wu
Guangming Shi
Xing Xiang
Fumo Yang
author_facet Xiaodong Wu
Guangming Shi
Xing Xiang
Fumo Yang
author_sort Xiaodong Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Many studies have been conducted to explore the characteristics of PM2.5 pollution events in Sichuan Basin, China. However, they focused on either specific regional pollution events from different aspects or the megacities, such as Chengdu and Chongqing. To provide a panorama gram of PM2.5 pollution episodes in the whole basin area, we identified all the PM2.5 pollution events in 17 cities during 2016–2019 and analyzed the characteristics of these events. In total, 1342 episodes were identified and the characteristics of episode numbers, durations and PM2.5 concentrations were analyzed in each city. We found that the characteristics of the temporal and spatial distribution of the episode numbers and durations were similar to the annual average of PM2.5 concentrations, which were higher in the Southern Sichuan and Western Sichuan Plain spatially and occurred most frequently in winter, followed by spring, autumn and summer. Non-monotonical relationships were obtained between the PM2.5 concentrations and pollution durations and there was a duration threshold in each city. For episodes with durations shorter than the threshold, their PM2.5 concentrations increased with duration. The duration thresholds were 6–8 days and 5–7 days in Southern Sichuan and Western Sichuan Plain, respectively. We also found that the air quality deteriorated in 2019 in most cities. Synthetically considering the numbers, durations and concentrations of pollution episodes, more concerns should be taken for the prevention of PM2.5 pollution in Yibin in the Southern Sichuan, Chengdu and Leshan in the Western Sichuan Plain, Neijiang in the Central Hills, and Bazhong, Dazhou, Nanchong in the Northeastern Sichuan. These results could help understanding the characteristics of PM2.5 episodes in Sichuan Basin and providing implications for pollution control strategies in future.
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spelling doaj-art-95ec994607ba425ab0afe0d1b71b66472025-02-09T12:20:38ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092021-09-01211111710.4209/aaqr.210126The Characteristics of PM2.5 Pollution Episodes during 2016–2019 in Sichuan Basin, ChinaXiaodong Wu0Guangming Shi1Xing Xiang2Fumo Yang3Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sichuan UniversityNational Engineering Research Center on Flue Gas DesulfurizationDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sichuan UniversityAbstract Many studies have been conducted to explore the characteristics of PM2.5 pollution events in Sichuan Basin, China. However, they focused on either specific regional pollution events from different aspects or the megacities, such as Chengdu and Chongqing. To provide a panorama gram of PM2.5 pollution episodes in the whole basin area, we identified all the PM2.5 pollution events in 17 cities during 2016–2019 and analyzed the characteristics of these events. In total, 1342 episodes were identified and the characteristics of episode numbers, durations and PM2.5 concentrations were analyzed in each city. We found that the characteristics of the temporal and spatial distribution of the episode numbers and durations were similar to the annual average of PM2.5 concentrations, which were higher in the Southern Sichuan and Western Sichuan Plain spatially and occurred most frequently in winter, followed by spring, autumn and summer. Non-monotonical relationships were obtained between the PM2.5 concentrations and pollution durations and there was a duration threshold in each city. For episodes with durations shorter than the threshold, their PM2.5 concentrations increased with duration. The duration thresholds were 6–8 days and 5–7 days in Southern Sichuan and Western Sichuan Plain, respectively. We also found that the air quality deteriorated in 2019 in most cities. Synthetically considering the numbers, durations and concentrations of pollution episodes, more concerns should be taken for the prevention of PM2.5 pollution in Yibin in the Southern Sichuan, Chengdu and Leshan in the Western Sichuan Plain, Neijiang in the Central Hills, and Bazhong, Dazhou, Nanchong in the Northeastern Sichuan. These results could help understanding the characteristics of PM2.5 episodes in Sichuan Basin and providing implications for pollution control strategies in future.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210126Sichuan BasinPM2.5 concentrationPollution episodeEpisode duration
spellingShingle Xiaodong Wu
Guangming Shi
Xing Xiang
Fumo Yang
The Characteristics of PM2.5 Pollution Episodes during 2016–2019 in Sichuan Basin, China
Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Sichuan Basin
PM2.5 concentration
Pollution episode
Episode duration
title The Characteristics of PM2.5 Pollution Episodes during 2016–2019 in Sichuan Basin, China
title_full The Characteristics of PM2.5 Pollution Episodes during 2016–2019 in Sichuan Basin, China
title_fullStr The Characteristics of PM2.5 Pollution Episodes during 2016–2019 in Sichuan Basin, China
title_full_unstemmed The Characteristics of PM2.5 Pollution Episodes during 2016–2019 in Sichuan Basin, China
title_short The Characteristics of PM2.5 Pollution Episodes during 2016–2019 in Sichuan Basin, China
title_sort characteristics of pm2 5 pollution episodes during 2016 2019 in sichuan basin china
topic Sichuan Basin
PM2.5 concentration
Pollution episode
Episode duration
url https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210126
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