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Arid Land Geography ›› 2024, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (4): 707-719.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2023.088

• Regional Development • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatiotemporal evolution and influencing factors of PM2.5 in the five urban agglomerations in the Yellow River Basin

MU Shilei1(), YANG Yuhuan2, Wuritaoketaohu 1()   

  1. 1. College of Ethnology and Anthropology, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot 010022, Inner Mongolia, China
    2. College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern University, Xi’an 710127, Shaanxi, China
  • Received:2023-02-28 Revised:2023-04-23 Online:2024-04-25 Published:2024-05-17
  • Contact: Wuritaoketaohu E-mail:mushilei123@163.com;wurtkth@imnu.edu.cn

Abstract:

This study focuses on 82 cities in five major urban agglomerations in the Yellow River Basin and uses PM2.5 data published by the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre from 2016 to 2020. Spatial autocorrelation, geographic detectors, and geographically weighted regression methods were employed to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and main driving factors of spatial heterogeneity of PM2.5. This provides a reference for relevant departments to improve atmospheric pollution prevention and control policies. The results are as follows: (1) The change in the annual mean of PM2.5 roughly follows an inverted “N” shape, and the seasonal mean changes in a “U” shape with a periodicity of first decreasing and then increasing. (2) In terms of spatial distribution, a gradient-decreasing pattern is formed from downstream to midstream to upstream of the Yellow River, exhibiting a gradually decreasing trend. (3) PM2.5 exhibits positive spatial autocorrelation and overall aggregation distribution over the five years, with high-high, low-low, and low-high agglomeration types. (4) Natural geographical factors have a stronger driving force on PM2.5 spatial differentiation than socio-economic factors in 2016 and 2020. The interaction results show two types: bi-factor and nonlinear strengthening. (5) The geographically weighted regression model is used to fit the five factors with the largest explanatory power for differentiation. The negative effects of each factor on PM2.5 pollution in the five urban agglomerations have increased, whereas the positive effects have decreased over the past 5 years. Significant differences in spatial direction and strength were observed.

Key words: the Yellow River Basin, PM2.5, urban agglomeration, ecological protection, high-quality development