Air Pollution in a Northwest Chinese Valley City (2020–2024): Integrated WRF-HYSPLIT Modeling of Pollution Characteristics, Meteorological Drivers, and Transport Pathways in Yining
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigates the characteristics, meteorological drivers, and transport pathways of air pollution in Yining City from 2020 to 2024 based on meteorological records and air pollutant monitoring data. An integrated modeling approach combining the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model was employed. Results reveal an overall annual decrease in ambient pollutant concentrations in Yining, with PM2.5 and PM10 consistently below the national secondary standards, In contrast, the O3 concentration shows a marked yearly increase. Pronounced seasonal variations were identified: the elevated O3 concentrations in summer were driven by high temperatures and intense solar radiation. The significant increase in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations during winter was predominantly attributed to coal-based heating emissions and temperature inversion conditions. Pollutant concentrations were strongly associated with gaseous precursors (e.g., CO and NO2) and meteorological factors. Higher temperatures and lower relative humidity aggravated O3 formation, whereas lower temperatures and higher relative humidity favored PM2.5 pollution. Correlation analysis revealed that NO2 and CO showed the strongest correlations with PM2.5 (r = 0.84) and O3 (r = −0.62), respectively. Backward trajectory analysis revealed that higher pollution levels were associated with air masses originating from the southwest and southeast.
Source: Toxics
Authors: Xiaoqi Liu, Wei Wen, Xin Ma, Dayi Qian, Weiqing Zhang, Shaorui Wang
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W4415230369